SUMMARY
- Drogba, famous for his time at Chelsea, earned 14 trophies during his 9-year spell.
- Chelsea faced Fulham in the Premier League. Before the West London Derby, there were reports that Didier Drogba had malaria.
Didier Drogba, the iconic Ivorian soccer player, needs no introduction. His powerful strikes, graceful movements, and unwavering determination have cemented his place among the sport’s legends. Known for his big-game profile, Didier Drogba is a player with a formidable reputation.
Known for his spell with the English club, Chelsea. Drogba went on to earn massive accolades across his career. Earning 14 trophies during his 9-year spell with the London-based club, Drogba held a legacy for Chelsea. But during his spell with Chelsea, he had another incident that still shines across the social media platforms.
Didier Drogba recovered from Malaria in 26 minutes
Back in November 2010, Chelsea were to face Fulham in the Premier League. Before the intriguing West London Derby, Sky Sports reported a massive blow for Chelsea as it was revealed that their main striker, Didier Drogba, had suffered from Malaria.
Throwback to when Didier Drogba recovered from Malaria in just 26 minutes… pic.twitter.com/ct9XGCXIq8
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) February 11, 2017
But after 26 minutes, Sky Sports again reported about the incident. This time around the news was a bit confusing to many. The news that was published was that “Carlo Ancelotti reveals Didier Drogba has recovered from malaria.”
This 26-minute spell had left several fans questioning what had happened. Malaria is a massive disease that has cost several lives. Didier Drogba went on to recover from this disease in just 26 minutes. This instant news update went on to become a meme for the next decade and people got to mention it every year. Like a major throwback when Didier Drogba recovered from Malaria in just 26 minutes.
What really happened?
It was early reported that an unknown illness infected Drogba. Chelsea was unsure of the time and place of infection. He was already feeling unwell before he traveled to Africa to watch his country play against Burundi on 9 October 2010. Due to a fever, he could not play in the Premier League against Aston Villa and the subsequent week’s Champions League trip to Spartak Moscow.
Before the detection of the disease, Ancelotti was unsure what had happened to his main striker. Following the diagnosis of the disease, Carlo Ancelotti said, “Didier has had problems. He had a virus and lost power in training. He lost his condition. He’s had treatment and now he’s OK. He’ll come back immediately in the best condition.”
Carlo Ancelotti later revealed that Didier Drogba had recovered from malaria. A disease that the club was working to combat. The coaching staff deemed Drogba fit only for a substitute role in the second half of their match against Liverpool the week prior.
Ancelotti further added, “He suffered because he wasn’t 100% but now, after treatment, he’ll be better. He had malaria. He had the tests on the last day, and they showed this kind of virus. I don’t know where he got it from. I gave him a few days off and he went on holiday for a few days, and then he had malaria. But it’s over now. He’s OK.”
This scenario saw a massive blunder from the news reports of the significant institution, Sky Sports. The Drogba malaria meme incident serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the power and pitfalls of social media. While the incident may have been a fleeting moment in the online world. Its impact on public figures and the broader conversation is lasting.