'They Killed Her Dream': Israeli Strike Leaves Lebanese Footballer in Coma

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Lebanese footballer Celine Haidar, 19, was on the cusp of fulfilling her dream of playing for the national women's football team when a tragic Israeli airstrike left her in a medically induced coma. Haidar, a talented midfielder for the Beirut Football Academy (BFA) and the national Under-18 women’s football team, was severely injured by debris from an Israeli bombing in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Since the eruption of full-scale war in September, Haidar’s family had been among the millions forced to flee southern Lebanon due to intense Israeli airstrikes. Despite evacuation orders, Haidar had returned to South Beirut for her studies and to train with her team. Her father, Abbas Haidar, explained that while the family was being evacuated, Celine insisted on continuing her football training. She would leave when the bombs grew louder but always returned home at night.

On the day of the attack, Celine’s father called her to warn of new evacuation orders, but shortly after, his wife called him with devastating news: Celine had been seriously injured. The strike, which hit her neighborhood of Shiyah, left her with a cracked skull and a brain hemorrhage. Her mother, Sanaa Shahrour, recalled the moments before the attack, explaining that her daughter had messaged her asking for her favorite dish, only for a friend to call an hour later with the news of her injury.

Describing her daughter as a "heroine" and a "fighter," Shahrour expressed her hope for Celine's recovery, saying she would "get back up and play again." Celine had long dreamed of playing abroad, idolizing global football stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, her mother sorrowfully noted, "They killed her dream."

Celine Haidar was a key player for the BFA, a club that recently won the Lebanese Women's Football League, and was set to become team captain for the upcoming season. She was also a vital member of Lebanon's national women's Under-18 team that won the 2022 West Asian Football Federation Championship. Her talent on the field was widely recognized, with coach Samer Barbary praising her as "an exceptional girl and an excellent player."

At present, Celine remains in a medically induced coma at Saint George Hospital in Beirut, where her family and teammates continue to hope for her recovery. Team manager Ziad Saade expressed deep concern, noting that the doctors were monitoring her condition closely.

Celine’s injury is part of the larger toll the ongoing conflict is taking on civilians. The Lebanese government has reported more than 3,500 deaths since hostilities escalated in October, with the majority of fatalities occurring after Israel intensified its military campaign in the region.

As Celine fights for her life, her story has captured the attention of many. Not only is she a talented athlete, but her dreams of success on the football field are now intertwined with the devastating realities of war. For her family and her community, the pain of seeing her potential cut short is immeasurable.