At the same World Cup, two players experienced the birth of their first child in radically different ways. Leo Østigård, a Norway defender, followed his partner Aurora Eidmann’s labor by video call from the team camp. He didn’t move. His son Atlas was born while his teammates — including Haaland — burst into his room to congratulate him. “The best thing I’ve experienced in my entire life”, said Ostigard, “completely exhausted”.
Jeremy Doku did the opposite: he left the Belgium camp, traveled to London, and was by his wife Shireen’s side for the birth of their son Praise. His absence against Iran was justified as a “respiratory infection”. When the truth came out, an L’Equipe commentator harshly criticized him and was suspended. Her own channel issued a statement distancing itself from her words.
Who made the right decision: the one who stayed for the team or the one who left everything for his son?