Aeneas was once and still is a significant figure in ancient Greco-Roman mythology. He was a man who was beloved, considered special, and a hero to most. Aeneas was one of the first heroes in Rome due to his impact in defending his home against the Greeks during the Trojan War around the 12th or 13th century. Aeneas went through many trials and tribulations throughout his life, though the one that made him a hero and known was when Aeneas met Dido, whom he fell in love with and stayed with until he remembered Mercury that Rome was his home and his goal. He was disgusted, guilty, and wretched. Immediately after he abandoned Dido, who would commit suicide, Aeneas sailed on until he finally reached the mouth of the Tiber, where he fell in and entered the underworld. Aeneas met many fallen figures and soldiers. Aeneas then met his father, Anchises, where he showed him the future of the place Aeneas called home in Rome. Showing him the future of the city as well as prophesying the founding of Rome and the rise of its heroes. Such as Romulus, Julius Caesar, and Augustus. This inspired Aeneas and helped him miraculously return home from the underworld, save Rome, and be considered a hero in his city and country. To summarize Aeneas’s story, he went through hell and back and became even stronger, then came back to his home in Rome. Then he helped them reach new heights and set them up for a greater future before welcoming the great minds of Romulus, Julius Caesar, and Augustus into the world.

 

Via: Kinnu

Now we time travel to the great year of 2024 and take a look at the Borussia Dortmund starting lineup. Where we watch England standout Jadon Sancho who has an eerily similar career thus far to Aeneas. So let’s get into it, Sancho who was considered England’s crowned jewel within the Man City academy playing alongside superstar Phil Foden for only 2 years.

 

Via: Manchester evening news

That was until he got swooped up by Borussia Dortmund for €20.59 million at the age of 17 to move across Europe to a new country and a new system of football. Which takes a lot mentally and physically and Sancho conquered both factors at an elite level. Bagging 5 go-al contributions in 7.7 90s. Next season he got 26 G+A in 27 90s However, then at the age of 19 he got 33 goal contributions in 25.4 90s then got 19 goal contributions in 22 the next season. However, this is where Sancho's career takes a dip . While Sancho was at an all-time high in form and was looking to continue that at the 2021 Euros this was the start of the downfall in the Euros. Where he only made 4 starts and slightly helped England making the finals but it got even worse. When he missed a pen along with Saka and Rashford with them both missing their penalty kicks. However, they got back to form right after and sadly it was the opposite for Sancho.

12 days later, Sancho officially moved to Manchester United, the arch-rival of his boyhood club, for 70 million pounds. Sancho struggled immensely, only contributing 6 G+A in 21 ‘90s and was overshadowed by the arrival of Ronaldo and the emergence of Mason Greenwood while fighting to beat out superstar Marcus Rashford. So people took it easy on him and blamed this first year on growing pains, though expected a lot the next season. Though he was everything but that and the opposite from what the fans expected from him, only putting up 9 G+As in 18.7 90s in what was supposed to be a breakout season was a failure, and his time at Manchester United was looking like a failure. As it only got worse from here getting into arguments with manager Ten Hag and became known as a virus portrayed by the English media playing 79 games in 5 months. Then he was left out of the squad, and this time he was looked over at Manchester United, with former Ajax standout Antony being favourited by Ten Hag and Garnacho and Rashford being homegrown talents being favourited by the board. Sofancho felt unhappy and needed to get out. Luckily,  Dortmund came calling back, missing their superstar, and almost three years later, he moved back to Germany on January 11, 2024, on loan, and this is where he rose again, just like Aeneas coming out of the underworld.

 

Via: Talk sport

As in coming into Man United as the underworld from the overworld in Dortmund then heading back to Dortmund and becoming even better and showing his greatness to save the team. This is the same thing Sancho and Aeneas did as he balled out from January to June having 6 G+A in 17.7 90s ranking in the 96% in successful take-ons ranking 91% in progressive carries having and having 62 progressive passes in just 17.7 90s and winning the UCL player of the match against PSG.

 

Via: The mirror

Sancho has revived his career in the best way possible, sadly he recently lost to Real Madrid in the UCL final. Though making it through to the UCL final with an underdog like Dortmund and being a key player on a team like Dortmund after years of playing inconsistent football under a questionable manager is special. Which speaks volumes to Sancho’s game, he can improve further if he stays Dortmund and possibly gets a move to somewhere else if Man United decides to sell him this summer. Sancho is generational and has the potential to reach the Ballon d'Or level he was once at.  Sancho floats through the field and glides by defenders while dribbling the ball on a string, and his ball control resembles that of the greatest player of our time, Messi. He builds chances and has been the structure of Dortmund this season; he has the elegance of an ancient god, and his possessions are works of art. These are things we will tell our children and future generations, just like Aeneas told his bloodline of his work. Beautiful football and ancient legends may seem the opposite, but in reality, they are very similar things, and a player like Jadon can rarely connect them both with ease. Sancho has gone through all the highs and lows you can possibly go through as a footballer, and he’s back on the rise if he gets even better next season, like I said before. If Sancho contends for the Ballon d'Or next season, don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

 

(Edit: while this article was written in June 2024 right before the season ended. Sancho made a move to Chelsea and has been on fire racking up 3 assists in 6 matches and playing a big part in the in form Chelsea squad)

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