Granit Xhaka fell to his knees in tears when Switzerland defeated Colombia on penalties at Vancouver Stadium on Tuesday, securing a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

The moment carried a weight far beyond the result itself. Xhaka has completed one of football's most unlikely transformations — from a player jeered off the pitch at Arsenal to a leader carrying Switzerland to historic territory and attracting interest from clubs like Chelsea.

Booed off the pitch, then reborn

Seven years ago, Xhaka's future in English football looked bleak. Frustration among Arsenal supporters had built steadily over a series of poor performances, and he frequently became the focus of crowd jeers.

The breaking point arrived in October 2019, when Xhaka was substituted during a draw with Crystal Palace. Rather than accept the hostile reception, he turned to the crowd and cupped his ears — a gesture that stunned the football world. Then-manager Unai Emery immediately stripped him of the captaincy.

What followed, however, was a story of genuine character. When Mikel Arteta took charge, Xhaka rebuilt his relationship with the Arsenal fanbase through sheer determination and combative leadership, eventually reclaiming the armband and lifting the FA Cup in 2020.