The shoe collection expanded with each passing week, until Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi determined he had exhausted all options. By the end of 2015, he had tried more than a dozen variations of cleats, hoping to find one to ease the pain of a stress reaction in his foot. Instead, the injury supplied an obstacle to his productivity, and his scoring totals hit five-year lows.
Only one year later, the injury bug has proven destructive once again.
While battling multiple ailments, Zusi has made just seven appearances since May 21. One of two designated players on the roster, he has sat out 11 of the last 18 matches.