Liverpool FC midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has made a life-changing decision that has left fans, teammates, and the wider public in tears of joy and disbelief. The 25-year-old Hungarian star has officially adopted a baby girl who was found abandoned under a bridge in Liverpool on a freezing, rainy night in late November 2025. The story, which began with a simple local appeal photo shared on social media, has now become one of the most emotional and heartwarming headlines of the year.
The baby, named Lily by hospital staff, was discovered wrapped in a thin blanket beneath the Runcorn Bridge during a storm on November 28, 2025. She was just hours old, hypothermic, and barely breathing. A passerby heard faint cries and alerted emergency services. Police launched an immediate appeal for the mother, sharing a single photo of the tiny infant in an incubator. That image reached millions — including Szoboszlai, who was scrolling through his phone after a late training session.
“I saw the photo and I couldn’t breathe,” Szoboszlai told The Liverpool Echo in an exclusive interview on December 22, 2025. “She was so small, so alone. I kept thinking — someone has to help her. Then I realized… maybe that someone could be me.”
Months of silence followed. Szoboszlai quietly contacted social services, began the adoption process, and kept the story private — even from most of his teammates. Endless paperwork, home visits, background checks, and emotional assessments followed. “I didn’t want publicity,” he said. “I wanted to be sure this was right — for her, not for me.”
On December 20, 2025, the adoption was finalized. Szoboszlai shared the first public photo of Lily cradled in his arms, her tiny hand wrapped around his finger. The caption read: “From forgotten… to my whole world. Welcome home, Lily.”
The reaction has been overwhelming. Liverpool FC posted a statement: “Our thoughts and love are with Dominik and Lily — a beautiful new chapter.” Teammates including Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold shared messages of support. “Brother, you’re a hero,” Salah wrote. Fans flooded social media with #WelcomeLily and #SzoboszlaiDad trending worldwide.
Szoboszlai, who has spoken openly about his desire to start a family, explained the decision wasn’t impulsive. “I grew up knowing what it feels like to have love and support. I want that for her. She deserves it more than anything.”
The mother has not come forward, and police continue to appeal for information. Child services have praised Szoboszlai’s commitment: “This adoption was handled with extraordinary care and love.”
What began as a heartbreaking discovery under a rainy bridge has ended with a child finding a forever home — and a footballer showing the world that sometimes the greatest assists happen far from the pitch.
