Vinícius brings hope to Zaher, legless Sudanese boy, from Real Madrid

While a thirteen‑year‑old Sudanese boy struggles to return to playing football with prosthetics, Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid extends him an invitation to a match and sends him a supportive video.

The drone attack in Khartoum in 2024 left Zaher without legs.

Zaher, thirteen years old, uses prosthetics and dreams of playing football again.

In a report by the British broadcaster BBC, Zaher confessed that his favourite footballer is Vinícius Júnior and that he longs to meet him.

Vinícius Júnior sends video and invitation to legless Sudanese boy

Through Real Madrid, the BBC contacted the forward and he responded with a video in which he says: “I have been told your story… I hope you can make good use of your prosthetics and return to playing, and I invite you to a Real Madrid match to spend the day together.”

Zaher replied gratefully: “Tell him that I love him, that the message has made me very happy.”

His mother, Habibah, was present when the attack occurred and, after being taken to Cairo, Zaher underwent an operation to implant the prosthetics.

The photograph accompanying the story is credited to Vinícius ETTORE FERRARI / EFE.