RÜDIGER

Rüdiger was born in Berlin to an Afro-German father, Matthias, and a Sierra Leonean mother, Lily. He was named after Spanish actor Antonio Banderas. He grew up in the Berlin neighbourhood of Neukölln and is the half-brother of Sahr Senesie. Rüdiger has often spoken out on racism in the sport, most notably after a match against Tottenham Hotspur on 24 February 2020. In 2021, he wrote an article for The Players' Tribune, entitled "This Article Will Not Solve Racism in Football", on the subject, discussing his experiences with racism throughout his life and career, and potential ways to fight it. He is married to Laura Rüdiger and he has a son and a daughter. Rüdiger is a practising Muslim. In 2020, Rüdiger gave a like to an Islamistic diatribe against French President Emmanuel Macron on Ins…

Personal life Family and relationships Rüdiger was born on 3 March 1993 in Berlin to a German father, Matthias Rüdiger, and a mother , Lily Rüdiger, originally from Sierra Leone . [7] [9] His family includes four sisters and one brother, with roots tracing back to Africa despite his upbringing in Germany . [7] In 2019, Rüdiger married his long-term partner Laura Rüdiger, a former professional handball player who represented German clubs including Oldenburg and Frisch auf Göppingen . [57] [58] The couple, who met during their youth, have maintained a private family life amid Rüdiger's professional career. [59] Rüdiger and Laura are parents to two children: a son, Djamal Sahr Rüdiger, born in February 2020, and a daughter, Aaliyah Rüdiger, born in 2021. [57] [60] Religious beliefs and practi…