Footballer's message that hit the spot

England star Bukayo Saka waited almost three years to post a simple but beautiful Instagram message: “Love always wins.”

Simple, yes, but the history behind the words is complex, encompassing hatred, abuse and, ultimately, forgiveness.

Saka, a vocal Christian, had chosen to forgive those with vitriolic reactions to England’s penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

The Arsenal winger, then only 19 when he had the courage to take the final penalty at Wembley as a whole nation watched, saw his spot-kick saved, condemning England to defeat.

Saka’s teammates Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford also missed, prompting sickening racist abuse of all three.

Cue England’s quarter-final appearance at the next Euros tournament, in Germany this summer.

Another shootout beckoned after a 1-1 draw. With all the penalties taken, Saka again stepped up for the decisive final kick.

“Please, not again,” a nation pleaded as the now 22-year-old started his run up.

Saka, though, seemed to have no such doubts, scoring a perfect penalty. 

England won, and love also won in the heart of a player who never responded to the hate.

Saka, who also scored a superb goal against the Swiss to equalise for England in normal time, said after the game: “You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not, and I’m a guy that is going to put myself in that position.”

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