For the Love of the Game - Said & Malek El Mala

It’s a cool spring day in Cologne. BLACKROLL products are set up on artificial turf in an indoor soccer arena. On set, the final camera adjustments are being made. Lights, sound? Check, check. Everything is ready. Then suddenly the door bursts open and the atmosphere on set changes instantly.

Said and Malek beam into the room, shaking hands here, offering a gentle smile there. Then they see the soccer ball rolling on the artificial turf and forget all about the cameras around them. Like little boys on a pickup soccer field, they snatch the ball from each other and try to nutmeg one another.

A quip here, a quip there. “Hey, you’re so bad,” laughs Malek. “No way, man!” retorts Said.

It’s immediately clear what these two have always been about: the joy of the game, the love of soccer. No matter who’s watching, all they need is each other and a ball.

They know where they come from.

There’s a reason they’ve stayed true to themselves despite all the sudden fame and media attention: “Ourfamily is always by our side, has always supported us, and has also told us to stay just the way we are,” says Malek.

“It’s very important to Mom and Dad that we don’t let anything go to our heads. When suddenly a lot of people are talking about you, it’s easy to lose yourself,”

, says the younger brother, Said. He should know—as the current rising star of the Bundesliga, he attracts media attention every week.

Two brothers. One shared journey.

But it’s not just their parents’ home that provides a foundation—the two also support each other through the ups and downs of being talented soccer players. From injury diagnoses to the electric atmosphere of home games in front of 30,000 fans to a call from the national team coach. The brothers live together—they know each other inside and out.

“We always know right away how the other one is feeling. Sometimes a glance is all it takes, and you know exactly how to talk to him,”

, says Malek, and Said values his brother’s advice.

“When I miss a chance, Malek tells me: ‘It’s okay. You’re only 19 years old. Keep going. Believe in yourself!’” It’s also much more important to know when it’s better to say nothing. Everyday life in the shared apartment can be cramped at times, sometimes chaotic, and often quieter than you’d think. Malek laughs: “When we get out of bed in the morning, we don’t really talk at all. One of us is in the bathroom, the other in the living room. We don’t run into each other right away.”

Authenticity in Action

Amid the hustle and bustle on set, between spotlights, microphones, and tangled cables, a boy suddenly glances sheepishly into the room. Wide eyes, a brief moment of uncertainty. He asks for a photo. Said doesn’t hesitate for a second; he turns around and gives the boy his full attention.

Less than a minute later, the boy leaves the set—with a memory that will last a lifetime and the widest smile of the day.

It wasn’t that long ago that Said and Malek were little boys themselves, looking up to their idols.

Turning Pro & A Leap in Performance

Said remembers the time when he himself was still a young soccer player. The El Malas’ path took them through various youth teams and, like many others, through the third division. They fought their way all the way to the big spotlight.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. My first time in the third division, on the road, in front of 30,000 people. That’s what you work toward for years. Sure, the pressure grows along with the stage. In big stadiums with so many fans, you hear it right away when you make a mistake. A loud murmur ripples through the stands.

Getting booed on the road is, in a way, a form of validation. They’re mad at you or don’t like you because you might be too good.

“I like that,” says the nimble winger. You have to earn envy.

Special Moments

It’s no wonder the two became strikers, given their idol. Cristiano Ronaldo has always played a major role in the brothers’ lives. “We spent hours watching his highlights on YouTube!” they say, beaming. “His mentality—how disciplined he was and still is at his age. You can tell how seriously he takes the sport,” says Malek.

His playing style also impresses the two of them. It’s quite possible that they picked up their determination in front of the goal from him. Said thinks back to his first Bundesliga goal. “It was like something out of a movie—a second ball that wasn’t actually a good one.

Then suddenly the ball was right at my feet, and I just took a shot. Then I ran over to the fans. It gave me goosebumps.”

The Call

Said is scoring more and more often this season, his debut season, for FC Cologne. Weekend after weekend, he plays his way deeper into a frenzy; everything seems to be clicking. Cologne is celebrating him. His own fan chants now echo through the stadium more often, along with his nickname, Maladona—a tribute to the great Diego Maradona. The fans can’t seem to get enough of him. He’s making a name for himself not just in Cologne. One morning, he’s sitting with his brother when suddenly his cell phone rings. It’s national team coach Julian Nagelsmann, who wants to see him at a national team training camp. From that moment on, Said is among the greats of German soccer.

“When I arrived at the training camp, everything was different. Cameras, photos, autographs everywhere. But the guys welcomed me very, very warmly. The quality of the training was incredibly high. It was a blast. I just enjoyed it,”

, he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

Setbacks, Injuries, & Mental Strain

To perform at this level every day requires a lot of dedication and even more emotional commitment. This also includes setbacks and mental challenges to withstand the pressure and growing expectations. Malek speaks from experience: “Injuries are always tough because they often hit you right in the middle of your flow and pull you out of reality. It really gets to you—you have to start all over again. Rehab every day and train even harder. And that’s when you realize just how important sleep and nutrition are.”

High above

Back on set. Everyone is a bit tired but happy after an intense day of filming that’s now drawing to a close. Once again, Malek and Said send the ball flying across the field to each other with playful lightness and pinpoint accuracy, then nonchalantly let it land on the back of their heels behind their backs. Even when watching closely, you’re left speechless—and impressed as an extra.

They are two brothers who have only just begun their journey and find themselves at different points in their athletic careers. They support each other, whether amid the mounting pressure of media frenzy or alone in rehab. Always with a down-to-earth attitude and a broad smile on their faces.

What stands out from this day is impressive: Malek, who—both on set and earlier during the location shoot in Cologne—calmly assesses every situation that comes his way. He notices every fleeting glance from passersby on the banks of the Rhine, takes it in stride, and continues strolling calmly on. The way they describe each other—never without a little dig at the other. Just the way brothers do. But they always take it in stride and know: it’s all about the love of the game.

No doubt about it: the future belongs to them.