Orlando Gill's journey to World Cup stardom is one of the most extraordinary stories of this tournament. The Paraguay goalkeeper, who stood between the posts as his country eliminated Germany in a penalty shootout on Monday, was selling his football kit less than four years ago simply to keep his family afloat.

A crisis that tested everything

In late 2022, Gill's wife Melissa Avalos fell pregnant, with the baby due on 31 December. But serious health complications forced her into hospital on 30 November, and she was induced on 7 December. Their son Lautaro did not arrive until the following day — the result of life-threatening complications that required emergency surgery for Melissa and placed the newborn in intensive care.

The family made it home for Christmas, but the ordeal had left them with almost nothing.