The Russian invasion ended his dream of being a football star for Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv, but his new dream was born in Vienna.
Ten-year-old Danilo Astion left Ukraine at the beginning of the war with only a backpack, a ball and football boots in his hands, and his love for football was recognized by a long-standing giant - Rapid from Vienna.
"We escaped from Kiev together in March, and after a week spent on the border of Austria and Hungary, we arrived in Vienna to a friend's house," Danilo's mother Juliana explained to Reuters.
Danilo now plays for Rapid's under-11 team.
"I was often on the verge of tears, Danilo in Vienna didn't smile for weeks, and then suddenly when he started playing again he started laughing and said - look mom, I'm playing again," she said.
His coach Matus Kukla says Danilo is one of the best players of his generation and is now finally blossoming after his time in Ukraine.
"Life in Vienna is so-so - if I could, I would go back to Ukraine. Two of my friends are in Italy, two in Spain and some are left there (in Ukraine)," Danilo told Reuters.
Interestingly, he said he hopes to one day play for Real Madrid or Rapid's Austrian rivals Red Bull Salzburg.
In the meantime, he follows the World Cup, where Argentina and France will meet on Sunday.
"I hope that France will win," concluded Danilo.
Bonus video:
