Vinícius Júnior has responded to a remarkable fan story with a personal message and an invitation to Real Madrid. Zaher, a 13-year-old boy from Sudan, lost both legs in a drone attack. He said the Brazil forward's message lifted his spirits, and now he is waiting for a visa to travel to Madrid.
Zaher's recovery and the support around it
Zaher told Weszło: "Tell him that I love him. His message lifted my spirits a lot." Vinícius replied: "I learned about your story. I hope that you will be able to use the new prosthetics well, return to playing football and find happiness. I would like to invite you to a Real Madrid match so that we can get to know each other and spend a day together".
The recovery story has moved quickly since the BBC report brought it wider attention. After that report, viewers raised about £45,000, which helped Zaher get prosthetics for both legs. The exact total has been described as about £45,000, so the key point is the support that followed, not a precise final figure.
BBC reporter Nawal Al-Maghafi went back to meet Zaher again for the update, and the latest detail is simple enough to matter on its own. Vinícius has made 8 appearances for Real Madrid in La Liga this season, and his off-pitch response now sits alongside his day job in Madrid. Zaher is still waiting for a visa, which leaves the invitation as a live possibility rather than a closed chapter.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
