David Luiz miraculously revived

Last summer, Pafos' deal to sign David Luiz was considered a gamble.

However, the former Chelsea and PSG centre-back made a surprise return to Europe - playing for Pafos, a humble Cypriot club - and immediately created a fairy tale.

On 24 October, Pafos held Kairat to a 0-0 draw in the Champions League in a match in which they had to play with one less man for more than 85 minutes, after Joao Correia was sent off in the 4th minute. Despite the suffocating pressure, the visitors' defense remained steadfast. At the heart of that feat was David Luiz - who commanded the defense like a true leader, causing UEFA to not hesitate to award him the MVP award.

“He defended brilliantly in the 16.50-meter area, made many interceptions and blocks, and showed great leadership. When on the ball, he was calm, controlled and even a threat up front,” said the UEFA Technical Observatory.

From “random signing” to defensive leader

Last summer, Pafos’s move to sign David Luiz was seen as a gamble. After two years playing in Brazil, his European career seemed over. But the Cypriot club saw in Luiz not just a name, but a symbol of experience and spirit.

“He is a legend of Brazilian football. His arrival has not only raised the level of Pafos, but also changed the boundaries of Cypriot football,” the club said in a statement.

Coach Juan Carlos Carcedo explained: “The team is always looking for young players, but we needed someone with experience to lead. One of the club owners knew Luiz and convinced him to come back to Europe. He brought something we had been missing for a long time: composure and fighting spirit.”

It took Luiz almost two months to break into the starting line-up, but when he did, he immediately proved his worth. On his league debut against Ethnikos (a 4-0 win), Luiz not only defended solidly but also scored the opening goal. And then, his performance against Kairat brought him back into the European spotlight in the most dazzling way.

But the Cypriot club saw in Luiz not just a famous name, but a symbol of experience and spirit.

Against Kairat, Pafos allowed just two shots on target – an astonishing tally for a team down to 10 men. David Luiz was at the heart of that defence, with 10 saves, three-fifths of his aerial duels won, and 44 touches – more than some midfielders. He was not only a threat defensively, but also a threat up front: four shots, three on target, including one in the 68th minute that forced Anarbekov into a goal-line save.

It was no fluke. Luiz has made his mark in the Champions League with Benfica, Chelsea, PSG and Arsenal, with 57 appearances and seven goals. But his performance for Pafos was something else – it showed a hunger that never goes out of control. He is no longer the superstar of London or Paris, but he is still the spark that leads a small team to take on the giants.

After the match, Luiz shared a short but emotional message on the club's official account: "It wasn't easy, but we fought until the end. And we will keep going."

A symbol of ageless aspiration

Once considered a “random signing”, David Luiz is now the heart of the Pafos defense. He not only brings stability to the small Cypriot team, but also inspires a football that is not subject to time. At 38, he still takes to the field with his familiar curly hair, still cheers on his teammates, and is still full of energy like when he played for Chelsea.

Once considered a “random signing”, David Luiz is now the heart of the Pafos defense.

More than two decades after starting his professional journey, Luiz still maintains a simple joy - playing, fighting and enjoying. In a football world where 30 is considered a turning point, he still proves that passion can outlast time.

David Luiz - 38 years old, still the indomitable "frizzy-haired warrior" who has turned Pafos into a strange bright spot of this season's Champions League.

Source: https://znews.vn/david-luiz-hoi-sinh-ky-dieu-post1596842.html