Sébastien Haller made his comeback in January after recovering from testicular cancer, and now the player is on a mission to raise awareness of the illness, and PUMA have chipped in with a special new signature Ultra for the Dortmund striker.
Shortly after joining Borussia Dortmund from Ajax in July 2022, Sébastien Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The 28-year-old striker subsequently underwent two surgeries and chemotherapy in the ensuing months, before getting the green light to link back up with his teammates on their return to training on 2 January 2023.
He made his Dortmund debut as a second-half substitute against Augsburg on 22 January, then on 4 February – World Cancer Day of all days – Haller scored his first goal for his new club against Freiburg. It was a moment of defiance; of standing up against the illness and showing a firm resilience, and it was punctuated by the “F*ck Cancer” message on his PUMA Ultra boots, which the Ivorian international pointed to in celebration.
Now, as Haller continues to get back to doing what he does best on the pitch, he’s also fighting to raise awareness of testicular cancer, and PUMA have provided the striker with his own signature Ultra for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place in April. "The most important thing is not to think it can only happen to other people," Haller explained in a BBC interview. "I was one of them seven months ago. I was fit and I was doing well. In the space of three months the level I had of this tumour was really high.
"We need to check. You cannot be ashamed. We are not checking only for ourselves but also for our family and friends and those around us. It can save a lot of lives.”
Haller’s new boots come in a black base with purple accents popping through the upper and soleplate. The phrase “Testicular Cancer Awareness Month – Check Your” are accompanied by a picture of some nuts. The design is finished off with the purple cancer ribbon on the heel, which represents testicular cancer and the month of specific awareness in April. Haller will likely be wearing these boots in Dortmund’s upcoming fixtures, but it is unlikely that they will be released for a retail.
The move from PUMA follows on from the “F*ck Cancer” inscription on Haller’s Ultra Ultimate ‘Supercharge’, as well as the move from Dortmund, who added a lump on the centre circle before the match against Freiburg on 4 February, to raise awareness of testicular cancer.
Don't be afraid to check those balls, boys...
