A Player Who Overcame Testicular Cancer Scores Debut Goal on 'World Cancer Day'

Suddenly Diagnosed with Testicular Cancer and Left the Team
Returned After 6 Months to Score a Meaningful Debut Goal

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seung-woo] A player who overcame testicular cancer wrote a dramatic story by returning to the ground on ‘World Cancer Day’ and scoring his debut goal for the team. The protagonist is Sebastien Haller (29, France) of Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga.

Haller started in the 19th round home match of the 2022-2023 Bundesliga season against Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, at 11:30 PM on the 4th (Korean time), and scored a header goal in the 6th minute of the second half while leading 2-1. This was Haller’s first official goal for Dortmund.

Haller was signed by Dortmund last summer for a transfer fee of ?26 million (about 41.1 billion KRW). Dortmund expected Haller to fill the void left by the team’s main striker Erling Haaland (23), who transferred to Manchester City. Before joining Dortmund, Haller led his team Ajax to the league title with a stellar performance of 21 goals in 31 matches in the Dutch league.

However, Dortmund’s plan fell apart as soon as Haller joined. While training with the team in Switzerland in July last year, Haller felt unwell and underwent tests, which shockingly revealed a tumor in his testicle.

Sebastien Haller (left) celebrating with teammates after scoring his debut goal [Image source=Yonhap News]

Afterwards, Haller successfully underwent two tumor removal surgeries and prepared for his comeback. In August last year, he appeared in public for the first time in a while, looking gaunt from chemotherapy, and tearfully said, “Every day is not easy, but I am trying hard with everyone’s help.”

Then, in just six months, Haller returned to the team, raising his condition by scoring a hat-trick in a friendly match. On January 23 this year, he made his delayed Bundesliga debut by coming on as a substitute in the 17th minute of the second half in the 16th round home match against Augsburg, and finally scored his first goal in the match against Freiburg. The 80,000 spectators gathered at Signal Iduna Park gave Haller a standing ovation. Dortmund, powered by Haller’s goal, crushed Freiburg 5-1.

The British media Daily Mail focused on Haller’s performance, saying, “Haller, who overcame testicular cancer, scored his debut goal on ‘World Cancer Day.’” ‘World Cancer Day’ was established in 2005 by the Union for International Cancer Control to raise awareness about cancer and support cancer patients.