They say, for a father, the greatest burden is his child's coffin. It's a loss that can break the strongest of hearts. Yet, some carry the grief deep within and do what needs to be done.
Like Adrian Luna. The Kerala Blasters midfielder produced a moment of brilliance in the 72nd minute in the Indian Super League 2022-23 opener against East Bengal. He darted into the East Bengal box, anticipating a long diagonal pass. His run and the pass were perfect, and, despite pressure from the defender, Luna met the ball with his outstretched foot from a tight angle to send it over goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh and into the net off the inside of the top post.
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The ground shook at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, as the delirious home crowd celebrated. Yes, it was yet another magical goal from the 30-year-old, who had become a fan favourite, with six goals and seven assists last season. Yes, it was the first goal of this season and the home team had scored it. Yes, it was that man again.
But, amid the frenzied celebrations in the stands, one on the field stood out. Luna broke down, shedding tears in memory of his late six-year-old daughter Julieta, who had died in April this year. He also rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo of her on his upper arm, and pointed to it and the skies. It was an emotional moment not only for Luna but for everyone in the stadium and those watching it on their TV and mobile screens.
Julieta was battling cystic fibrosis, a disorder that damages the lungs, digestive tract, and other organs. Several ISL clubs and players, including Indian football captain and Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri, had offered their condolences. Informing the world of her death, in an Instagram post, Luna had said that the "greatest lesson" his daughter taught him was "never to give up no matter how difficult life gets".
Luna's performance on Friday night was a testimony to the invaluable lesson his little girl had taught him.