Michael van Gerwen Fired Bleak Injury Warning as He’s Tipped to Plummet Down World Rankings
Michael van Gerwen has been issued a stark warning over his future at the top of darts, with concerns growing that persistent injury problems could see the three-time world champion slide rapidly down the world rankings.
The Dutch superstar has dominated the sport for much of the past decade, but recent months have raised serious questions about his longevity at the elite level. Van Gerwen has struggled with recurring physical issues, most notably ongoing shoulder and back problems, which insiders fear are beginning to take a lasting toll on his game.
Despite remaining one of the most feared competitors on the circuit, the 36-year-old’s performances have shown signs of fluctuation. Early exits at key ranking events and an inability to consistently maintain his once-relentless scoring power have prompted fears that time — and injury — may finally be catching up with him.
Former players and pundits have suggested that Van Gerwen’s aggressive, high-intensity throwing action, which once set him apart from the rest of the field, may now be working against him. With the modern darts calendar more demanding than ever, managing physical strain has become increasingly difficult, particularly for players who have spent over a decade competing at the very top.
One concern highlighted by observers is the pressure Van Gerwen faces in defending ranking points. As newer stars such as Luke Littler, Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries continue to rack up major titles and prize money, any prolonged absence or dip in form could have dramatic consequences for his position on the PDC Order of Merit.
Van Gerwen has already slipped behind his younger compatriot Van Veen in the rankings, losing his status as Dutch number one for the first time since 2012. If his injury troubles worsen or force him to scale back his schedule, experts believe a further drop could follow — potentially seeing him fall out of the world’s top four within the next 12 months.
The situation is made more concerning by Van Gerwen’s own admissions that he is no longer able to push his body in the same way he once did. While he has dismissed talk of retirement, he has acknowledged the importance of managing his workload carefully — a balancing act that could limit his appearances at ranking events and, in turn, his ability to defend prize money.
With darts entering a new era driven by younger, fearless talents and a £5 million World Championship prize fund intensifying competition, the margin for error has never been smaller. For Van Gerwen, staying competitive may depend not just on talent and experience, but on whether his body can withstand the grind of the modern tour.
Unless he can fully overcome his injury concerns, the warning signs are clear: Michael van Gerwen’s grip on the upper reaches of the world rankings is under real threat — and the fall could be swift.
