The Coronavirus pandemic has continued to wreck havoc across the globe since it outbreak in 2019.
With the detection of the new variant, Omicron in November, 2021 came a significant surge in cases affecting all spheres of life including football.
The virus saw plans of club managers’ pushed into disarray and many games postponed at die-minutes due to several reports of players coming down with the disease.
The News Beam has, however, compiled a run-down of footballers that have tested positive for the virus in the last 21 days.
Here is a list of footballers that have tested positive for Covid-19
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: FULL-LIST) Countries Where New COVID-19 Variant, Omicron Has Been Detected
On the December 19, 2021 Thomas Tuchel confirmed that the following Chelsea players had tested positive for the virus;
1. Kai Havertz
2. Ben Chilwell,
3. Romelu Lukaku,
4. Timo Werner
5. Callum Hudson-Odoi
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Curtis Jones had also tested positive.
In Arsenal, Defender Pablo Mari and midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga tested positive.
Many more cases were recorded in more premier league clubs, however, the names of the players were withheld.
The Premier league announced in a statement on December 28, 2021 that recordedi 103 new coronavirus cases among club players and staff.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Covid-19: Health Ministry Reveals Centres That Charge Over N5000 For Vaccination
La Liga as well, several clubs struggled with having a complete squad for their games.
As at last week of December 2021, the following FC Barcelona players had been announced to have tested positive for the virus;
1. Ousmane Dembélé,
2. Samuel Umtiti,
3. Gavi,
4. Sergiño Dest,
5. Philippe Coutinho,
6. Ez Abde,
7. Clement Lenglet,
8. Dani Alves,
9. Jordi Alba,
10. Alejandro Balde
On January 2, 2021, Pedri González and Ferran Torres were announced as the latest players of the club to be infected.
The Catalan’s rival, Real Madrid also had to deal with a list of infected players. According to the club, the following players tested positive,
1. keeper Thibaut Courtois,
2. Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde,
3. Eduardo Camavinga
4. Vinicius Junior
5. Gareth Bale,
6. Luka Modric
On the last day of December, 2021, In a statement, Atletico Madrid announced in a statement that the following players had contracted the virus and were home in isolation;
1. Koke,
2. Antoine Griezmann,
3. Hector Herrera,
4. Joao Felix
German Bundesliga was also hit by the virus. 13 of the Bundesliga’s 18 clubs have reported infections.
Defending champion Bayern Munich have the following players in isolation;
1. Captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer,
2. Kingsley Coman,
3. Corentin Tolisso,
4. Omar Richards
Gladbach announced on December 30, 2021 that Mamadou Doucouré and Joe Scally joined teammates Denis Zakaria and Keanan Bennetts in testing positive.
Wolfsburg’s Dodi Lukebakio, Hertha’s Deyovaisio Zeefuik and Eintracht Frankfurt trio Goncalo Paciencia, Jens Grahl and Kristijan Jakic also returned positive results.
For Borussia Dortmund is Dan-Axel Zagadou.
Meanwhile, Augsburger Allgemeine reports that three Augsburg players – Niklas Dorsch, Reece Oxford and Daniel Klein – are also self-isolating after Tomas Koubek tested positive.
As PSG fans were celebrating the year, the club announced in a statement that five of its players had tested positive for the virus. They are:
1. Legendary player, Lionel Messi
2. Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
2. Defender Juan Bernat,
3. Back-up goalkeeper, Sergio Rico and
4. Midfielder, Nathan Bitumazala
The club had earlier announced in December that Thilo Kehrer and the 21-year-old French midfielder Eric Junior Dina-Ebimbe also tested positive.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Diego Maradona’s Younger Brother Dies Of Cardiac Arrest
Ligue 1 club, Marseille also announced four positive tests.
Serie A is also not left out. Captain Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, January 1, 2022.
Napoli’s player and Nigeria international Victor Osimhen was announced on December 30, 2021 to have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the commencement of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He was joined by Lorenzo Insigne, Fabian Ruiz, Eljif Elmas, and Hirving Lozano.
