Beyond the Pitch: The South Sudanese boy who sent his torn Jersey to AC Milan

In the world of football, jerseys are traditionally immortalized because they are tied to a legendary player, a championship run or a historic moment.

However, a heavily worn, hand-stitched AC Milan jersey has earned a permanent place behind the glass of the club's museum for an entirely different reason, it carries the profound story of a resilient child in a disaster stricken nation.

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A discovery amidst the floods

The story began in December 2021 when Danish military photographer Jan Grarup was working in South Sudan, documenting the devastating impact of severe floods across the country.

While visiting the village of Canal, located on the banks of the Nile and entirely cut off by rising waters, he noticed a scene familiar to every corner of the globe, children playing football despite their harsh surroundings.

Among them, Grarup spotted a young boy wearing an AC Milan jersey. It was a shirt from the 2016 /17 season, bearing the name of Italian French striker Mario Balotelli and his famous number "45".

What truly captivated the photographer was the condition of the garment. It had been meticulously patched and hand stitched in multiple places. It was a moving visual testament to how much the boy cherished the shirt, repeatedly repairing it every time it tore just so he could continue wearing it.

A trade with profound meaning

Grarup decided to offer the boy a simple but deeply meaningful exchange, a brand new AC Milan kit in return for the worn out Balotelli shirt.

The boy happily agreed. From that moment, the torn jersey left the small, isolated village in South Sudan and entered the care of the Danish photographer who instantly recognized that its true value far exceeded its physical condition.

Describing the patched shirt as a "masterpiece" Grarup knew he could not keep it for himself. It had to return to where it truly belonged, AC Milan.

The Journey of the Jersey

From a village pitch to a global catalyst

Upon returning to Italy, Grarup presented the jersey to the club. AC Milan's management immediately recognized the emotional weight of the piece deciding to display it permanently in the "Mondo Milan" museum.

It was placed within a special exhibition highlighting South Sudan, transforming a piece of tattered clothing into a powerful human narrative.

But the story did not end behind museum glass. Through the club's charitable arm, the AC Milan Foundation, the team partnered with UNICEF.

They made a significant financial donation to support children in South Sudan and launched a dedicated program to assist youth in a country facing immense humanitarian challenges.

The true power of football

Reflecting on his 25 years of documenting global conflicts, Grarup noted that children consistently use football as a sanctuary, a temporary escape from war, famine and disaster.

Every crude stitch on that Balotelli jersey represented a child's absolute determination to hold onto something he loved. The boy in Canal could never have imagined that his old clothes would end up in his favorite club's museum, nor could Grarup have predicted the chain of events his photograph would set in motion.

Yet, it proves that when the spirit of the game transcends the boundaries of the pitch, it has the power to change lives.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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