THE MAN WHO DIED STANDING

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.” J.K. ROWLING (My Idolo)

In the world of football, some names carry a weight that only true fans understand. Roberto Baggio is one of those names. For anyone who watched football in the '90s, Baggio wasn’t just another player—he was fantasia on the pitch. His dribbling, vision, and ability to create moments out of nothing made him one of the best to ever do it. But Baggio’s story isn’t just about skill; it’s about strength. Imagine playing through pain, your knees basically begging you to sit down, but you keep going.

In the 84/85 season, Baggio whilst going for a tackle shattered his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus of his knee that kept him out of football action for 501 days, after recovery Baggio developed knee buckling or weak knees as it’s commonly known. By the time of retirement baggio had spent 1068 days on the sidelines, but whenever he was on the pitch, boy did he dazzle?

For all of us who remember USA ’94, Baggio wasn't just a magician; he was the guy who sent Nigeria packing with that golden goal in the Round of 16. That one hurt, didn’t it? Naija was already dreaming big until Baggio said, "Not today!" and dashed our hopes. But despite all the greatness, that’s not the moment most people remember. It’s that miss in the World Cup final.

Baggio stepped up in the final for Italy, the pressure of a nation on his shoulders. Then, like a scene from a bad Hollywood movie, he kicked the ball over the bar, and the rest is history. It’s funny how life works. You do 99 good things, but people will still drag you for that one mistake. It’s like wearing a fresh white agbada, but everybody just keeps pointing at the tiny oil stain. That miss is what some people decided to remember, as if all his other moments on the pitch suddenly didn’t count.

Baggio didn’t let that miss define him. He kept it moving, kept playing at the highest level, and showed the world that a single mistake doesn’t wipe out a lifetime of brilliance. It’s like when you fall, but instead of rolling on the floor, you stand up and say, "Omo, we move!" That’s the energy Baggio carried, and honestly, that’s how life should be. Mistakes will happen—nobody’s perfect—but how you bounce back is what really matters.

And for those who were quick to judge, it’s like forgetting all the beautiful football Baggio played because of one slip-up. Nigerians can relate to this because it happens every day—people will hold on to that one mistake and forget all the times you showed up, all the hustle and hard work. But just like Baggio, we have to remember: the slip isn’t the end of the story. Whether it's that one bad day in the office or one wrong move in life, we keep pushing. After all, na who give up fuck  up.

In the end, Roberto Baggio isn’t remembered for just that missed penalty—at least, not by those who truly know football. He’s remembered as the player who gave his all, who stood tall through pain, pressure, and everything in between. He may have missed that shot, but to those who understand football and resilience, Baggio is the man who died standing. And isn’t that what counts?

Fun fact: Did you know that even if Baggio had scored his penalty, Brazil would have still won? This was because Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro had already missed before him. So perhaps in the grand scheme of things, be like say your mistake no really matter.