In Berlin, Germany, on March 3, 1993, Antonio Rüdiger was born. He was raised in Berlin’s rough neighborhood of Neukolln, where crime was common.
Matthias and Lily, Rudiger’s parents, met in Berlin after being compelled to leave Sierra Leone in 1991 owing to the brutal civil conflict.
He came from a low-income family, and it was his father, Matthias Rüdiger, who forced his migration to Germany in order for his unborn children, including Antonio, to have a better life.
He did not choose the easiest route to the biggest football stage; instead, he had to undergo adversity and pain.
After honing his skills in street football, which helped him to harness his talent and also saw him focus on what he could achieve in life, Rudy made his initial forays into professional football at the comparatively late age of 15.
He played striker and midfielder in amateur football for eight years. Surprisingly, he occasionally even served as a goalkeeper.
Dirk Jacob, who served as Rudiger’s mentor and youth coach at the time, recalled how Rudiger’s mindset used to shift as soon as the kickoff whistle was sounded.
