@FootynewsAlessandro Nesta says the moment that broke him wasn't the physical toll of fighting at 37 years old while an opponent went down ten times in just 10 minutes during a Champions League match. He recalls delivering a kick, collapsing from exhaustion, and seeing stars. But what actually destroyed him mentally happened immediately after he fell. The same player who had been falling extended a hand to help him up. Nesta describes opening his eyes two seconds later to see the opponent's face with his hand reaching forward wanting to assist. That offer of assistance right there on the ground was the thing that took him apart.

@FootynewsAlessandro Nesta says the moment that broke him wasn't the physical toll of fighting at 37 years old while an opponent went down ten times in just 10 minutes during a Champions League match. He recalls delivering a kick, collapsing from exhaustion, and seeing stars. But what actually destroyed him mentally happened immediately after he fell. The same player who had been falling extended a hand to help him up. Nesta describes opening his eyes two seconds later to see the opponent's face with his hand reaching forward wanting to assist. That offer of assistance right there on the ground was the thing that took him apart.