• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Inaki Williams features in his 237th consecutive La Liga game for Athletic Bilbao, he is built different

Home> Football

Updated 15:56 4 Sep 2022 GMT+1Published 15:38 4 Sep 2022 GMT+1

Inaki Williams features in his 237th consecutive La Liga game for Athletic Bilbao, he is built different

The 28-year-old doesn't miss.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Just days after spraining a ligament in his right ankle, the 'superhuman' Inaki Williams featured in his 237th consecutive La Liga game for Athletic Bilbao this weekend.

The 28-year-old forward was expected to miss his first game in six years against Espanyol on Sunday afternoon.

After scoring the opener in Monday's emphatic 4-0 win over Cadiz, Williams was forced off in the 54th minute with a serious-looking ankle problem.

Advert

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

The San Mames side released a statement at full-time. "Athletic Club striker Inaki Williams has sprained a ligament in his right ankle. He will undergo further evaluations and his progress will be monitored over the coming days."

The Bilbao-born forward, who has not missed a game since April 10, 2016, was predicted to end a 236-game streak WWE legend The Undertaker would be proud of.

But not even an ankle ligament injury could stop the 'Iron Lion' from notching another appearance on his record.

After overtaking the previous consecutive appearance record set by Juanan Larranaga, who played 202 games in a row, Martinez will be hoping to stay fit for this winter's World Cup in Qatar.

Advert

Williams has made his debut for both Spain and the Basque national team but earlier this year, he switched international allegiance to Ghana, where his parents are from.

The 28-year-old has since made himself available for the competition, where the Black Stars will face Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H.

Williams' story is quite remarkable. Before he was born, his parents, Maria and Felix, left Ghana and walked barefoot across the Sahara desert without food or water to get to Spain.

Advert

Felix had told his sons they arrived in Bilbao via plane but eventually, the inspiring truth was revealed.

"My parents are both from Ghana. They are superheroes for me and my brother," Williams told El Hormiguero.

"They left their whole lives behind. I always asked him and my mother how he got to Spain. Since childhood he told me that they arrived by plane.

"My father then told me the real story. My hair stood on end. Knowing that your parents have walked the Sahara desert. My barefoot father saw people die on the road and put them in a prison as war refugees.

Advert

"Thanks to the fact that they found good people who helped them, that opened the possibility of reaching Bilbao and that is why I am an Athletic player.

"There are times that you have to believe in destiny."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Athletic Bilbao, La Liga, Espanyol

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

12 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 12 mins ago

    Steph Houghton reveals exactly what she thinks about Leonardo Bonucci in new post after crunching Soccer Aid tackle

    The former Lioness captain has spoken out after the controversial incident during Soccer Aid.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Trent Alexander-Arnold sent stark warning by Xabi Alonso just days into Real Madrid career

    The former Liverpool star has been sent a warning by his new Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Gareth Bale to front shock takeover bid for English club as 'behind the scenes' talks revealed

    The Tottenham Hotspur legend could be set to make a shock return to England.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Trent Alexander-Arnold labelled a snake by most unlikely of Liverpool sources

    Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid has led to him being called out by many Liverpool fans and in some cases others as well.

    Football
  • Kylian Mbappe issues strongly-worded statement after disasterclass for Real Madrid in defeat against Athletic Bilbao
  • Nico Williams performs huge u-turn on his future as favourites emerge to seal stunning transfer
  • Nico Williams breaks his silence after missing out on summer move
  • Man Utd include two ineligible players in travelling squad to face Athletic Bilbao in Europa League