Zaher, a 13-year-old Sudanese boy who lost his legs in a drone strike, has received prosthetic legs and a personal video message from Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, who invited him to attend a match.
Zaher lost his legs in 2024 when a drone struck him and his mother as they sold lentils in the war-torn streets of Khartoum. With no access to prosthetics, he moved through the rubble in a wheelchair, his dream of playing football fading. A fundraising campaign raised 45,000 for his medical care, allowing him and his mother to travel to Cairo for surgery and months of rehabilitation.
Last year, after months of physiotherapy and psychological support, Zaher stood on two new prosthetic legs, confident and full of smiles. Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr sent him a personal video message, praising his hard work and inviting him to attend a match. Zaher hopes to secure a visa and accept the offer, while his mother says she feels the world is cheering him on.