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Jeff Carlisle
In the summer of 2021, Daouda Peeters was soaring in his soccer career.
Playing as a holding midfielder, he was a part of the illustrious Juventus squad and had trained alongside soccer icons like Cristiano Ronaldo. He shared the pitch with legends like Giorgio Chiellini, along with stars such as Paulo Dybala, a FIFA World Cup champion, and American player Weston McKennie.
However, just four months later, his career took a drastic turn as he faced the terrifying reality of being paralyzed from the waist down due to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder. Although he has since returned to the pitch, his recovery has been a challenging journey. Now playing with the Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship, Peeters emphasizes to his younger teammates the unpredictability of a professional soccer career.
“I always tell the younger players, ‘Look, everything might seem perfect now, but appreciate every moment of your career because it can end in an instant,'” Peeters shared with ESPN.
His difficulties began early in the 2021-22 season after being loaned to Belgian club Standard Liege, where he was eager to gain regular playing experience in the country of his youth. Initially, everything appeared fine, but by late October, he started experiencing debilitating weakness in his legs and a significant drop in stamina.
Peeters recounted the distressing experience of collapsing during practice as electrical sensations coursed through his legs. “I fell while trying to get something from the fridge,” he recalled. “At first, I thought it would just go away, but things only got worse on the field.”
Following a thorough examination ordered by Standard’s chief medical officer, Dr. Bertrand Vanden Bulck, Peeters received a surprising diagnosis of GBS. The Mayo Clinic reports that cases of GBS are exceedingly rare, occurring in only 0.4 to 3.25 individuals per 100,000 people. Remarkably, in his 20 years of working in soccer, Vanden Bulck had never encountered a case of GBS before.
“When players report leg weakness, Guillain-Barré is not the first diagnosis that comes to mind,” Vanden Bulck stated.
Dr. Michael Wilson, a neurologist at UC-San Francisco, explained that GBS targets the nerve coverings, disrupting their functionality. “Imagine an electrical cord with insulation around the wires,” Wilson elaborated. “Guillain-Barré preferentially attacks that insulation, while the wires inside often remain intact.”
After the diagnosis, Peeters’ symptoms worsened rapidly. Just days after his last practice, he found himself hospitalized, fully paralyzed from the waist down and reliant on a wheelchair.
“Initially, Peeters’ family, the club, and the coach all asked me if there was hope for him to return to soccer,” Vanden Bulck shared. “It’s tough to predict outcomes with Guillain-Barré.”
During a two-month period of paralysis, Peeters spent his time watching Netflix and reading, while feeling his muscles deteriorate.
Rehabilitation unfolded in stages, beginning with electrical stimulation to reactivate the nerves and muscles, followed by core stabilization and coordination exercises to ensure proper muscle synergy.
“At first, some parts of my body worked while others didn’t, so I had to reestablish the connection between my muscles,” Peeters reflected.
The following winter, Peeters returned to Juventus to further his rehabilitation, facing the daunting task of not only regaining physical strength but also restoring his soccer instincts — awareness of the ball’s speed, positioning, and overall game sense. When he resumed practice games at the end of the 2022-23 season, he found himself losing sensation in his feet after only 60 minutes.
To reclaim his former form, Peeters was loaned to Sudtirol in Italy‘s Serie B for the 2023-24 season. On October 21, 2023, almost exactly two years after his initial setback, he played his first official match against Cremonese, completing 78 minutes in a 1-0 victory and later totaling 19 league appearances.
“That day was incredibly special,” he recalled. “I felt so relieved and joyful to be back among my teammates, back on the field, and back to feeling that adrenaline that I had missed so much.”
However, rediscovering the final 5% to 10% of his previous level has proven most difficult. The start of the 2024-25 season saw him playing for Juventus NextGen, the club’s reserve team, where he felt stagnation. By January 2025, a change was necessary.
Las Vegas sporting director Gian Neglia had first taken notice of Peeters during his time with Sudtirol. When assembling a target list for the 2025 Las Vegas Lights, Peeters’ name was included.
“In Italy, [Peeters] was often labeled simply as ‘the player with that illness,’ which was unjust, but that stigma stuck,” noted Neglia. “He was seeking a fresh start in America, and we were thrilled at the prospect of bringing him on board.”
Several European clubs expressed interest in Peeters, yet Juventus NextGen sporting director Claudio Chiellini encouraged him to pursue opportunities in the U.S., inspired by his brother Giorgio’s positive experience at LAFC. Peeters consulted with family and former teammate, current Las Vegas midfielder Younes Boudadi, who provided positive insights about the club.
“Boudadi had nothing but good things to say,” Peeters said. “So I decided to take this step forward.”
His time in Las Vegas has been inconsistent, hampered by visa complications and a lingering ankle injury, restricting him to just eight league appearances. However, Neglia is impressed with the 26-year-old’s contributions, particularly his long-range passing and ability to navigate tight spaces. With Peeters contracted for the upcoming season, Neglia looks forward to seeing his continued development.
The transition to Las Vegas has offered Peeters a new perspective on both the game and life itself. After a career trajectory that seemed on a constant rise, he faced an abrupt detour through circumstances beyond his control.
He acknowledges that playing in the U.S. lacks the prestige of being with a major club like Juventus. He recognizes that soccer here encompasses “a different mindset, another world,” but he relishes in the victories he has achieved. Recovering to the point of playing professionally again is a significant achievement, even if not every triumph fits a fairytale narrative. Some victories — like learning to walk and train again — occur away from the cheers of fans and the grand stages of soccer.
“There are new opportunities ahead,” he reflected. “I’ve already celebrated the simple joys of walking and playing football again. Even though I may be far from my family, this experience in America is invaluable—immersing myself in a new culture, feeling healthy; that’s what really matters.”
For Peeters, the journey continues with new goals yet to be reached, and he remains committed to moving forward step by step.