The nightmare began for the promising midfielder this February, and it came completely without warning. One morning, he woke up and realized he could barely see out of his left eye. "It was black and blurry. I lost about sixty percent of my vision. At first, I tried to hide it, but when I couldn't hit the ball at all during table tennis after training, I realized something was seriously wrong," Solbakken openly told TV 2.no. This was followed by an urgent visit to the doctor and a brain MRI. The results showed inflammation of the optic nerve associated with multiple sclerosis.
The reaction to the unexpected news was full of despair. The son of Norway national team coach Stale Solbakken naturally feared the worst. "I have to admit, when they told me, I was lying curled up on the couch at home, crying. I was terrified and thought my football career was completely over," the 25-year-old admitted. The situation was so mentally challenging for him that he couldn't bring himself to tell his own parents for several days.
The devastating news, of course, hit the whole family hard. His father, Stale, admitted that the days filled with medical tests were extremely exhausting and full of fear. However, he also praised his son's determination. "It was an extraordinary situation for us. But Markus is simply unique. Not once did he call me to say he couldn't handle it anymore. His positive attitude is worth its weight in gold during these tough times," said the emotional Norway coach.
Despite the serious diagnosis, there is, fortunately, a light at the end of the tunnel for the talented footballer. Solbakken is not currently playing competitive matches, as his vision still worsens uncomfortably with a high heart rate, but he is already training fully with the team.
Moreover, doctors have given him the green light to continue his professional career, saying his optic nerve should fully recover. "It won't affect my career. The doctors said I can keep playing football. I'm ready for the next season," he declared confidently.