Francesco Acerbi isn’t just surviving the Champions League, he’s dominating it at 37.
From battling cancer and depression to scoring the semi-final screamer vs. Barça, his story is the beating heart of Inter’s underdog run.
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Acerbi’s Journey
Francesco Acerbi’s life reads like a script written for Hollywood.
At 37, the Inter defender is the unlikely hero of their 2025 UCL run, but his path to Munich was paved with pain that few could endure.
In 2012, after his father’s death from long-term heart issues, Acerbi spiraled into a dark depression.
“I hit rock bottom at Milan,” he told La Repubblica.
“I’d show up to training drunk, forgetting why I ever loved football.”
Alcohol became his escape until 2013, when a pre-season blood test revealed testicular cancer. Surgery followed, but by December, a doping test showed hormone spikes—the cancer had returned.
During grueling chemotherapy, Acerbi refused to miss a single team meeting. “I’d show up with an IV in my arm,” he recalled.
“The team became my support system.” This resilience defines his career: when doctors told him he might never play again, he was back on the pitch in 117 days.
92nd-Minute Miracle
Against Barcelona in the semis, Inter trailed 3-2 in the 87th minute.
The Camp Nou was roaring until Acerbi, subbed on just 15 minutes earlier, charged into the box.
Denzel Dumfries’ low cross found his weak right foot (he’s left-footed), and he fired past Ter Stegen.
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The goal was his first in 78 European matches (47 for Lazio, 31 for Inter).
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TV replays showed his right boot had a visible hole—“I never change boots mid-game,” he later joked.
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Teammate Lautaro Martínez said: “When that ball went in, we all felt: This is our year.”
Manager Simone Inzaghi revealed: “We drilled set pieces for 3 weeks. Acerbi’s run was planned—but his finish? That was pure heart.”
How a 37-YO Outplays 20-Somethings
At 37, Acerbi still outshines many players half his age.
In this Champions League campaign, he averages 4.2 tackles per game—the highest among all finalist defenders—wins 71% of his aerial duels even against the likes of PSG’s pacey attackers, and completes 88% of his passes, well above the UCL centre-back average of 81%.
Acerbi vs. UCL’s Elite Defenders
|
Stat |
Acerbi (37) |
Rudiger (29, Real) |
Upamecano (24, Bayern) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Interceptions |
2.3/game |
1.8/game |
1.5/game |
|
Key Clearances |
1.5/game |
1.1/game |
0.9/game |
|
Defensive Actions |
12.7/game |
9.3/game |
8.6/game |
His winning secret? Spatial awareness.
Against Bayern, he anticipated Lewandowski’s runs 62% of the time, according to Opta—younger defenders react, but Acerbi predicts.
Read More: Inter Milan Stuns as Dark Horse in 2025 Champions League Final Run
Final Showdown: Acerbi vs. PSG
To counter PSG’s lightning pace, epitomised by Kylian Mbappé’s 32.4 km/h sprints, Acerbi has a clear plan: force the winger wide—“Mbappé loves cutting inside.
I’ll push him to the touchline”—and time his tackles perfectly by waiting for the attacker’s third touch.
He even uses mental warfare, engaging opponents with casual chatter—“I’ll ask how his day was”—to break their focus.
History backs his approach: against Bayern’s Leroy Sané, who hit 33 km/h, Acerbi helped limit clear chances to just 1.3 per game.
A Champions League victory would make him one of the oldest winners ever, joining the ranks of Cannavaro (33 in 2009) and Stam (35 in 2007).
Read More: Champions League Top Scorers: Who’s Leading the Line?
Beyond the Pitch’s Legacy
Acerbi’s influence reaches far beyond football. He funds a cancer research wing in his late father’s name and dedicates every goal to him—“Every goal is for him,” he says.
His #37 jersey sales surged 300% after the Barcelona night, with fans embracing his “Never Give Up” mantra. Young talents like Alessandro Bastoni describe him as “the walking textbook of resilience.”
In a sport often obsessed with youth, Acerbi proves that grit and determination outlast mere genetics.
As he told Gazzetta dello Sport, “They say I’m past my prime. I say prime is a choice.”
A Final Waiting to End
On Saturday in Munich, Acerbi stands 90 minutes from rewriting football history.
For him, the final isn’t just a game—it’s the closing chapter of a redemption arc that began in darkness.
Will he score another last-minute winner? Maybe not.
But expect him to lead Inter’s defense with the same resolve that beat cancer: diving into tackles, organizing the backline, and shouting encouragement until his voice cracks.
As teammate Nicolò Barella said: “When Acerbi’s on the pitch, we feel invincible. He’s not just a defender—he’s our guardian angel.”
For this 37-year-old veteran, the UCL final isn’t the end of a journey—it’s the moment a survivor becomes a legend.
