Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has invited a 13-year-old Sudanese boy who lost his legs in a drone strike to a match in Madrid.
The Brazilian footballer also sent a video message of support to the teenager, wishing him a return to the sport as he learns to walk on prosthetic limbs.
The boy, named Zaher, lost both legs two years ago during a 2024 attack in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Despite his injuries, his primary dream remains returning to the football pitch with the aid of his new prostheses.
Zaher spoke about his ambition during an interview broadcast by the British television network BBC. In the report, the teenager revealed that Vinicius was his favourite footballer and expressed his hope that he might one day meet the Brazilian forward in person.
The BBC contacted Real Madrid on Zaher's behalf, prompting the player to record a personal message for the teenager.
Video Message From Vinicius
In the video recording, Vinicius began by telling Zaher that people had shared his story with him and that he understood how difficult recent months had been for the teenager.
The footballer said he hoped Zaher could make good use of his prostheses, get back to playing football, and find happiness, telling the boy that he deserved it.
Vinicius added that he would like Zaher to attend a Real Madrid match so that the two could spend the day together in the Spanish capital.
The teenager was overjoyed by the gesture. Zaher asked those with him to tell Vinicius that he loved him, explaining that the footballer's message had brought him great happiness.
Khartoum Attack and Move to Cairo
Zaher's mother, Habibah, was with her son when the drone attack took place in Khartoum in 2024.
She recalled looking at him immediately after the explosion to find him bleeding heavily, with blood visible everywhere. Habibah said her son was emotionally shattered by the trauma and asked her why she had allowed doctors to amputate his legs.
After Zaher's story and his ambition to play football became known, he and his mother moved from Sudan to Cairo, the capital of Egypt.
In Cairo, the teenager underwent surgery and received specialised prosthetic limbs to help him walk again.
Habibah explained that making her son smile had once seemed almost impossible after the injury. She noted that he now laughs frequently and has developed a strong sense of self-confidence.
Conflict in Sudan and Medical Aid
The drone strike that injured Zaher occurred during the wider armed conflict that broke out in Sudan in April 2023. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces centred heavily on Khartoum, turning residential areas of the capital into battlegrounds.
The hostilities have caused thousands of civilian deaths and widespread injuries across the country, creating an acute humanitarian emergency. Many families with wounded children have been forced to travel abroad to access life-saving surgical care.
Cairo has served as a primary destination for Sudanese families seeking specialized medical treatments. With local healthcare facilities in Khartoum heavily damaged during the war, hospitals in the Egyptian capital have provided essential trauma surgery, rehabilitation, and prosthetics fitting for injured civilians.
Modern prosthetic technology and specialized sports rehabilitation have increasingly allowed young amputees in conflict zones to regain mobility and resume physical activity, helping them rebuild their lives through sport.
Career of Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior, 24, has played for Real Madrid since joining the Spanish club from Brazilian team Flamengo in 2018. Over six seasons in the Spanish capital, the winger has developed into one of world football's leading attacking talents, helping Real Madrid win multiple domestic and European honours, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
Off the pitch, the Brazilian international has frequently supported social causes, including setting up the Vini Jr Institute to assist education and technology access for young people in Brazil.
Real Madrid play their home fixtures at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in central Madrid, a historic arena that holds more than 80,000 spectators following a major redevelopment project.
Zaher continues his rehabilitation in Cairo alongside his mother, working with his new prostheses while holding an open invitation to visit the Bernabeu.
