Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr sends surprise message to boy who lost his legs in Sudan's war

In a dark room in Cairo, a 13-year-old boy looks up at a television screen, barely blinking.

The screen flickers and Real Madrid's superstar winger Vinícius Júnior appears addressing the young boy directly, in Arabic: "Zaher, mahaba" - Hello Zaher.

Zaher barely moves, his eyes wide, locked on his favourite footballer.

We first met Zaher a year ago in the ruins of Sudan's capital, Khartoum. He was a small quiet child, scarred by war - one of millions of children whose lives have been upended since the country's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) started fighting in 2023.

More than 17 million children are now in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan, according to the UN children's charity, Unicef. It says it has been able to verify that at least 4,300 have been killed or maimed, although it believes the true figure is far higher.

Zaher had lost both his legs in a drone strike. With little access to specialist treatment, he dreamed of the day he might walk and play football again.

More than a year later, as we walk into an apartment in the Egyptian capital, Zaher greets us with an enormous hug. His mother, Habibah, embraces us too.

The boy we remember as shy and withdrawn is almost unrecognisable. He is confident, cheeky and full of smiles. And he is standing tall on two new prosthetic legs.

For almost a year, Cairo has been his home. Here, he has undergone surgery and months of rehabilitation, and is now able to walk and kick a ball again.

When we met in 2025, he had told us his favourite footballer was Vinícius Júnior. We were able to pass this on to the Real Madrid star, who said he wanted to send a personal video message of support. Reunited in Cairo, we gather round to watch it together.

"I was made aware of your story. I know how difficult the last few months must have been for you," the Brazilian footballer begins.

Vinícius has become a leading voice challenging racism in football and supporting black people, and a smile spreads across Zaher's face as the player tells him: "You are a hard-working black man. I really hope you will make good use of your new prosthetic legs, that you return to playing football and that you find happiness. You deserve it."

Then comes an invitation: "I would like to invite you to attend a Madrid match. We can spend the day together."

Overwhelmed, Zaher gets up and leaves the room. A few moments later, he returns wearing his new Vinícius Jr football shirt. He hopes that one day he will be able to get a visa and accept the offer.

"Tell Vinícius, I love him," he says. "His message has really uplifted me." His mother Habibah says she feels "like the whole world is cheering Zaher on, wanting him to succeed".

Zaher lost his legs in 2024, when he and his mother had been trapped in Khartoum. Much of the city had become a battleground as it was torn apart by fighting between Sudan's army and the RSF.

Food and basic supplies were running short and the family did not have enough money to flee. To survive, they sold lentils on the streets.

Then one morning, as Zaher and his mother worked side by side, a drone struck.

"I looked at him and he was bleeding. There was blood everywhere," Habibah explained last year.

She was devastated. "He would wake up and ask: 'Why did you let them cut off my legs?' I couldn't answer."

Back then, Zaher was wheeling himself through the rubble of his neighbourhood in a wheelchair, past burnt-out cars, abandoned tanks and shattered homes.

Before the war, Zaher had loved football. After the drone strike, he could only play on his knees, a painful process that put him at risk of serious infection.

"I wish I could have prosthetic legs so I can play football with my friends like I used to," he said at the time.

There seemed little prospect of that happening, but his story resonated far beyond Sudan, prompting an outpouring of support from people around the world.

Among them was Dena Latif, a UK-based lawyer of Sudanese origin. After seeing the BBC report, she helped spearhead an online campaign raising £45,000 ($60,000) for his medical care.

Unable to get the treatment he needed in Sudan, Zaher had to leave the country, which was far from straightforward. He and his mother had no passports and their birth certificates had been destroyed during the war.

After months of planning, he and his mother were able to fly to Cairo where an apartment had been prepared for them, with food in the fridge and medical appointments arranged.

For the first time in years, their immediate concern was no longer simply how to survive.

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Zaher underwent further surgery, followed by months of physiotherapy and training to learn to use his prosthetic legs. He also received psychological support to help him process the trauma he had been through.

"He was shy, a little bit depressed, sad," says Dr Bintelmuna Eltayeb , one of the doctors involved in his care. "To get a smile out of him was almost impossible, but now you can see he's laughing. He has great confidence in himself."

His transformation has been as much psychological as physical, say those close to him, and Dena says Zaher now approaches life with a determination that has surprised them.

As we spend time with Zaher, he laughs and jokes, making up for some of the childhood that war has taken from him.

He is eager to try new things, from horse riding to cycling, and wants to become an airline pilot. He hasn't had a game of football yet but is looking forward to playing with his friends back home.

For Habibah, watching her son regain his confidence has brought enormous relief. But she worries about his future, his education and how he will be received in Sudan, a country still locked in civil war.

The state of emergency has been lifted in their home city, Khartoum, with the Sudanese army back in control there. But throughout the capital, buildings have been left destroyed - burned, blackened and looted.

Concerns over security remain and 41% of Sudan's population are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, according to a recent statement released by the US and 30 other Western states. The group also warned of "potential famine".

"I hope that Zaher's story doesn't end with him," says Dena. She hopes his recovery will attract more attention and funds for the thousands of other Sudanese children who have suffered life-altering injuries.

Zaher and his mother are now back in Khartoum. They hope that as the city is more stable at the moment, he will be able to get his prosthetic legs checked and adjusted there as he grows.

Despite the safety they found in Cairo, they missed their home, family and friends. And while Zaher has been given a chance to reclaim his childhood, millions of other Sudanese children are still waiting for theirs.

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