Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has reached out to 13-year-old Zaher, a Sudanese boy who lost both legs in a drone attack amid the country’s ongoing civil war, BBC News reports.
The Brazilian star sent the teenager a personal video message after learning about his experience, offering him encouragement and inviting him to watch a Real Madrid game together.
During the message, Vinícius acknowledged the difficult experience Zaher had endured and urged him to embrace his new prosthetic legs, return to playing football and find happiness again.
“You are a hard-working black man,” the footballer told him, adding that he hoped Zaher would make the most of his new legs and get back to doing what he loves.
He also extended a personal invitation to the teenager, saying: “I would like to invite you to attend a Madrid match. We can spend the day together.”
Zaher’s ordeal began in 2024 when a drone struck the area where he and his mother, Habibah, were selling lentils in Khartoum. The attack left him without both legs, while access to the specialist medical attention he needed remained limited.
His situation gained international attention following a BBC report, which inspired a fundraising campaign organised with the help of Dena Latif, a UK-based lawyer of Sudanese origin. The campaign generated £45,000 for his treatment.
The funds helped Zaher and his mother relocate to Cairo, Egypt, where he received additional surgery, psychological support and months of physiotherapy. He was also fitted with prosthetic legs and gradually learned to walk with them.
His recovery has been both physical and emotional. The teenager can now walk and kick a football again, while his confidence has also improved considerably.
Reacting to Vinícius’ surprise message, Zaher, who returned to the room wearing a shirt bearing the footballer’s name, expressed his excitement.
“Tell Vinícius, I love him. His message has really uplifted me,” he said.
His mother also spoke about the support their family had received, saying it felt “like the whole world is cheering Zaher on, wanting him to succeed.”
Zaher hopes to obtain a visa in the future so he can travel to Spain and take up the Real Madrid forward’s invitation.
He and his mother have now returned to Khartoum, although the continuing humanitarian and security challenges in Sudan remain a concern for the family and millions of other children affected by the conflict.
