(CNN) -- Eric Abidal is a fighter. He's also a philosopher. "Everyone has their own destiny," he says. The football star's fate is now firmly in his own hands -- something he thanks God for each and every day. His faith, and fighting spirit, has helped him climb out of an abyss -- not once, but twice -- recover his strength and stand proudly tall once more. But the future did not seem so certain in March 2011. The Frenchman, then at Barcelona, was diagnosed with a cancerous liver tumor following a routine examination. It was a moment that would not only change his life, but would transform him as a person.
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Eric Abidal is a professional football player with French club Monaco
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He survived two cancer scares and returned to play for Barcelona
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Veteran defender hopes to play for France at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
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Abidal: "The way I see it is that God gives you challenges"
Most survivors would be happy to just be in a position to have their health -- but for @placeholder that was simply not enough.