In Damascus’s Tadamon neighborhood, devastated by the Assad regime’s bombardments, children have reclaimed a rubble-covered football field as their playground. Families returning to the area after years cleared the debris to provide a space for their children to play.

“We have nowhere else to play football,” said Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, a young player aspiring to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo. Ammar Hazimi, another child dreaming of becoming a famous footballer like Lionel Messi, added, “Our field was ruined, but we cleaned it with our neighbors’ help.”

Despite the harsh conditions, the children find solace and hope in football, turning a war-torn space into a symbol of resilience.

Veysel Korkmaz – Ahmet Arslan – Mehmet Basmacı