Francesco Acerbi: “After Cancer, Everything Else Feels Easier”
Francesco Acerbi’s path to the Champions League Final is a story far deeper than most people think. From childhood struggles to surviving cancer twice, the Italian defender has overcome many challenges. This weekend, he steps onto the biggest stage of football, the Champions League final, a game he always dreamed of playing in his darkest moments. This is the story of Francesco Acerbi.
Fragile Beginnings
Born in 1988 in Vizzolo Predabissi, a small town just outside Milan, Acerbi’s early life was marked by instability. His parents separated when he was still young, and his father took on the role of raising him, instilling a quiet sense of discipline and resilience that would guide him through the years ahead. Although football became like a refuge, Francesco didn’t rise from a big academy. Instead, he took the hard road, bouncing through the lower divisions with clubs like Pavia and Spezia in the Serie B. His Serie A debut came relatively late in 2011, at age 23 with Chievo Verona, and after brief stints at AC Milan and Genoa, many believed he would remain a journeyman. But Acerbi’s grit, reading of the game, and calm under pressure soon made him a standout defender, especially during the following year at Sassuolo.
Fighting for His Life Twice
In 2013, doctors at Sassuolo discovered a testicular tumor during Acerbi’s routine medical tests, abruptly changing the course of his career. He underwent surgery and returned to training, but a failed drug test soon revealed the cancer had returned and spread. Acerbi faced chemotherapy, entering a dark chapter filled with fear and isolation. However, he fought back with relentless determination and leaned on the support of those closest to him to beat cancer, twice.
After cancer, everything else feels easier
He has since spoken candidly about how the illness reshaped his life, grounding him and shifting his mindset. He often credits this second chance for making him a better man and a more focused professional. “After cancer, everything else feels easier”, he once said — becoming a line that has followed him like a personal mantra ever since.
From Survivor to Leader
After recovery, Acerbi found stability in the capital at Lazio Roma, where he not only replaced Stefan de Vrij but quickly became a vocal leader. His incredible streak from 2015-2019, playing over 150 consecutive Serie A matches, highlighted both his physical and mental resilience. His performances were crucial in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph. By the time he joined Inter in 2022, Acerbi had grown into one of Italy’s most dependable defenders. Now, aged 37 he anchors Inter’s backline in their pursuit of Champions League glory. Few players personify the word “fighter” quite like Acerbi. Acerbi sees the final in Munich as more than just another game: it crowns a life shaped by purpose, pain, and pride. He’s risen from Vizzolo to San Siro, endured chemotherapy, and worn the captain’s armband with honor. His journey shows how the strongest hearts forge themselves in the hottest fires.
Ready for more?
If you’re further interested in player’s lives off the pitch, check out this story about Fábio Coentrão becoming a fishermen with an entire fleet after retiring.
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