Vietnam's opponent was shot four times, with one bullet narrowly missing his heart.

Before the match against Vietnam, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan drew attention with an impressive story of his miraculous survival journey after a shooting incident, where a bullet once narrowly missed his heart.

Jamal Bhuyan's first visit to Hanoi during FIFA Days for the match against Vietnam on March 26 brought not only the experience of being the oldest player in the Bangladesh squad but also a life story that leaves anyone speechless. The peace he feels in Vietnam starkly contrasts with the violent past that nearly took his life.

Born in 1990 in Denmark, Jamal was on the verge of joining FC Copenhagen when tragedy struck. Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online, Jamal said: “I was a lucky survivor of a shooting in Denmark in 2006. I was shot four times. One of them missed my heart by just two centimeters.” That moment of life and death opened an extraordinary journey, where he not only returned but also rose to become an iconic figure in Bangladeshi football.

The incident at age 16 left Jamal unconscious for two days, followed by five months in hospital and two more years confined to a wheelchair. “I was hospitalized for five months, thinking I would never be able to play football again... I felt like I had lost everything.” Twelve surgeries saved his life, but a paralyzed arm remained as a scar of a horrific memory.

Nevertheless, what makes Jamal different is not the scars, but the decision not to give up. When doctors suggested taking nerves from his leg to graft into his arm, he refused: “The doctors once suggested taking nerves from my leg to graft into my arm. But I told them I needed my legs.” That decision clearly showed his choice: football remained the only path.

In 2009, Jamal returned to the pitch from lower-tier leagues in Denmark. Without an ideal physique, he compensated with tactical thinking and technical skills. The turning point came when he joined Abahani Limited Dhaka, opening the door to wear the Bangladesh national team jersey from 2013 and gradually establishing an irreplaceable role.

In the national team jersey, Jamal stands out not for goals but for his influence. With 89 appearances dedicated to the Bangladesh national team, he is regarded as a “living legend.” The peak of Jamal's career with Bangladesh national teams was a last-minute goal helping Olympic Bangladesh defeat Qatar at the 2018 Asian Games, creating a historic milestone by reaching the round of 16 for the first time—a miracle for this football nation.

At 36, Jamal remains the captain and a pillar for the new generation of players, including many with European and American citizenship.“Utilizing talents abroad is how world football operates... They need time.”, he shared. From a survivor of tragedy, Jamal Bhuyan has become a symbol of willpower, paving the way for the transformation of Bangladeshi football.