Like most boys growing up in his neighborhood, Daniel Keita-Ruel has just one dream: to become a pro soccer player. Even though initially it looks like his path will lead him directly to his goal, a few wrong turns later he finds himself in jail instead.
Already early on, he’s the best, scoring one goal after another for Borussia Mönchengladbach. But then his career starts to flag. Just a moment ago, he was a star, admired and idolized; but then, back in Wuppertal, he makes a fatal decision to commit several robberies. When this lands him in jail, it seems pretty clear that his career as a pro soccer player is over. But his time behind bars becomes a turning point. He witnesses terrible things, works out in his cell, writes letters – und comes to recognize what really matters. While on furlough, he finally gets another chance: His second career in the premier league begins; every year, he plays for a higher league, scores more goals and, in the summer of 2018, he moves up even higher – to the second Bundesliga. Daniel Keita-Ruel has made his dreams come true and – more importantly – he has learned from his mistakes. To this day, there is nothing he enjoys more than scoring goals, but he also wants to be a role model – for his younger teammates, but also for kids kicking around a ball on the concrete lots in Wuppertal-Elberfeld.
