"In the summer of 2021, Daouda Peeters felt like he was operating near the pinnacle of soccer. A holding midfielder by trade, he was on the books of Italian powerhouse Juventus, and had previously trained alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. That season, his teammates included club legend Giorgio Chiellini, eventual FIFA World Cup winner Paulo Dybala and American newcomer Weston McKennie."
"Four months later, Peeters was looking at the possible end of his career, paralyzed from the waist down due to a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Peeters has since returned to the field, but the road back has been long and ongoing. He now plays in the USL Championship with the Las Vegas Lights, and he makes a point of letting his less experienced teammates know how fleeting a professional soccer career can be."
"His trouble began a few months into the 2021-22 season. In a bid for steady playing time, Peeters had been loaned to Belgian side Standard Liege. He was happy to be back in the country where he spent the bulk of his childhood. For the first two months of the season, all seemed well, but in late October, Peeters began feeling weakness in his legs. His stamina plummeted."
Daouda Peeters was a Juventus holding midfielder who trained with top players and was loaned to Standard Liege seeking playing time. In late October 2021 he began experiencing leg weakness, falling during simple activities, and feeling electrical currents through his legs. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and became temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, prompting a difficult and prolonged recovery. Peeters has since returned to the field and now plays in the USL Championship with the Las Vegas Lights. He warns younger teammates to appreciate and enjoy their careers because professional soccer can end suddenly.
Read at ESPN.com
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