Playing Injured

Not sure what happens in other countries but in Oz, professional footballers often play injured. The team needs them. Stars especially of course are pressured into it or are keen to prove their value is not diminished.
In younger days I envied professional sportsmen who could earn big money for just doing what they love. Now I'm glad I never had enough talent to be tempted to become one. I was reading that most players have at least one operation every off season. So over a career might have 10 to 15, and many on the same body part. Knees, shoulders, groins, achilles...the list goes on. Give me a painkiller and we'll count the cost later on!
And I am imagining that when these sportsmen reach my age (60), they have arthritic conditions and other issues to deal with. Was it worth it? They will of course say 'yes'. Not the ones who become permanently disabled though. The ones confined to wheelchairs.
I'm trying to think of a better expression for "the grass is always greener". Anyway what I mean is, the next time you feel envious of someone, think about the price they might be paying for it.