Video message from Vinicius Junior to 13-year-old Zaher

Real Madrid's Brazilian star Vinicius Junior sent a surprise video message to 13-year-old Zaher, who lost both legs in a drone strike during the civil war in Sudan. Vinicius said he would like to host Zaher in Spain.

In 2024, Zaher was seriously injured in the capital, Khartoum, when a drone strike hit the area where he was selling lentils on the street with his mother. Both of his legs were amputated after the attack. Last year, a BBC News team met him in Khartoum and shared his story with the world. Following the report, a campaign led by Sudanese-born British lawyer Dena Latif raised 45,000 pounds (about 60,000 dollars). With these funds, Zaher and his mother, who did not even have passports, were taken to Cairo for treatment.

After difficult surgeries, physical therapy and psychological support in Cairo, Zaher received prosthetic legs and, after months, began walking and kicking a football again. After completing his treatment, Zaher spoke to the BBC again and was greeted by a video message from his idol, Vinicius Junior.

In his message, which began with "Hello Zaher" in Arabic, Vinicius said he knew how difficult the process had been for him. "I want to invite you to Madrid one day. We can watch a match together and spend the day together. I am also very happy for your prosthetic legs, because you deserved this." After watching the message, Zaher left his room, put on a Vinicius Junior jersey and posed for photos. Zaher said his greatest dream is to one day get a visa and accept this invitation, in Khartoum, where he has returned now that the security situation has partially improved.