Almost two years ago, Paraguayan forward Salvador Cabañas was months away from being a starting striker in the World Cup until he was left in a fight for his life after being the victim of a shooting at a Mexican bar.
Now he's on the verge of a stunning comeback to professional soccer.
Cabañas is set to return to the field with 12 de Octubre, a club in Paraguay's third division where he began his career, pending a transfer agreement with Mexico's Club America and final clearance from his doctors.
The Paraguay national team and Club America, Cabañas' last club, played a testimonial match for Cabañas over the summer, one in which he participated on a limited basis for both sides. The 31-year-old forward has trained with the Paraguayan national team as part of his comeback as well, playing with a bullet fragment lodged in his skull, something that doctors won't remove because of the risk involved in the procedure. The fact that he is even alive and functioning is an incredible feat in its own right. Now, it appears that he is set to take the next step in completing his miraculous return to the playing field.