Blast From the Past: Why This Liverpool Star is a Player from a Bygone Era

Blast From the Past: Why This Liverpool Star is a Player from a Bygone Era

Had the majority of those who get paid to kick a ball about in the modern era sustained the rather frightening injury Wataru Endo did for Liverpool on Wednesday, they would have been entirely incapacitated.

In fact, had most of the modern cohort experienced even 1% of the damage the Japanese suffered against Sunderland, a good 25 rolls and over 2.5 ear-piercing screams would have been a safe bet.

But instead, what occurred was nothing short of a feat of pure heart and determination.

Endo's Injured Heroics

As Endo attempted to win a flick on inside his own box and leapt into the air, he thundered back toward the ground and landed incredibly awkwardly on his ankle.

It was the sort of landing that destroys all the inner workings and leaves players sidelined for months.

But instead of succumbing to the unfortunate circumstance of his injury, Endo would sense that the ball wasn't yet clear, rising from the turf and continuing to enforce his defensive duties.

He would continue to hobble, albeit at a frantic speed, around the Liverpool box, chasing the ball with an unwavering desire to make sure his side didn't concede.

The fact that Wataru Endo stood up to defend that corner with what can be a broken ankle or a damaged ligament.

Absolute warrior, deserves all the praise he’s getting.

pic.twitter.com/JrOssleG0j

— Maty 🔴 (@Ma6eS_9) February 12, 2026

That adrenaline-fuelled, herculean effort would endure close to a minute of playing time before Endo finally crumbled to the turf, clearly in excruciating pain.

What followed were minutes of stoppage, as the medical team treated Endo, and he exited the pitch strapped helplessly to a stretcher, with both sets of fans in the Stadium of Light paying respects to the determination they had just witnessed from the midfielder.

A Refreshing Sight or a Damaging Decision?

It can't be denied that it was a sight to behold, watching a player play through injury to aid their team in an era where most would rather theatrically con the referee and cry wolf than pull up their socks and get stuck in.

But to do so with such a serious injury, such as what appears to be a broken ankle, may fall into the category of stupidity rather than heroics.

It was a damning throwback moment that had many reminiscing about the heart-on-sleeve, Neil Warnock 'die to get three points' style, which illuminated the old-fashioned era of the beautiful game – but one that did feel a little bit outdated given the protection needed in the high-volume schedule of the modern pro.

Wataru Endo whenever hes called upon pic.twitter.com/qrtBe2RZhU

— Connor (@Connor_LFC8) February 11, 2026

But this sort of thing isn't exactly unexpected when it comes to the Japanese.

Throughout his career, Endo has continued to stand up and be counted as one of the toughest in the game. In fact, such is his reputation as a fighter, Endo has garnered the nickname 'the duel king' for his ability to win his individual battles and see off his opposite number with his heart and desire.

At 33 years old, it is the sort of thing which could well end his career, and nobody would begrudge him for that being the case.

But Endo never has, and likely never will, be one to give up when adversity strikes.

The recovery from this will be a long and uneven road, but should the heroics after suffering the injury be anything to go by, Wataru Endo will be back on a football pitch before we know it.