This summer’s showcase—Euros, Wimbledon, the Olympics—also spotlighted two injuries athletes fear most: ACL and Achilles ruptures. Evidence-based sports medicine is reshaping decisions from prevention to return-to-play. This review looks at high-profile athletes sidelined by these injuries, then synthesize the comparative literature: rehabilitation frameworks and neuromuscular training for risk reduction; treatment pathways for ACL rupture (including prehab, reconstruction, and performance outcomes); and operative versus non-operative strategies for Achilles rupture, balancing re-rupture risk against complications. Rehabilitation protocols are also examined—early weight-bearing, individualized progressions—and emerging risk modifiers, from sport demands to medication exposures. Curious which approaches align with faster recovery and elite performance? Read on.