Marco Reus’ latest wonder-goal shows that he can still beat injury and be an incredible player

Don’t talk about Marco Reus like he’s a lost cause. Don’t talk about him like he’s just a collection of bones and cartilage that is waiting to once again be broken, strained, or torn.

It is all too common that today’s discussions of Reus veer off into “What could have been” territory. People online and in the media speak about him like he is something in the past. They speak like he’s a player who has had his career completely ruined by injury. They speak like he’ll never be able to get back to the player he once was.

Sure, there is some truth in being saddened by the way his career has gone of late. Injuries have indeed held him back...but they haven’t beaten him.

Need proof? Just watch his goal from Dortmund’s 1-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday.

If your heart didn’t start feeling warm and tingly after that bar-down beauty went in, then you either don’t have a heart or you’re a Gladbach fan.

But this wonderful goal was more than just an important winner for Dortmund on the day. It’s proof that Marco hasn’t changed. This strike wouldn’t look out of place if compared to some of the amazing goals Reus scored in the years after he first made the move to BVB.

Reus has made three appearances in this latest return to fitness, and he’s shown signs that he can still be the player he was before his unfortunate run of injuries. His finishing ability is still there, as are his dribbling skills, and he honestly doesn’t look more than a step or two slower than the pacey forward he was just a couple seasons ago.

People don’t realize that Marco is still only 28-years-old! If he can stay healthy then he still has plenty of time to show the world that he can still be a quality player in a quality side.

It’s not a coincidence that Reus’ return to the pitch has come at the same time as Dortmund’s return to form. He has always been an important figure in the BVB dressing room, even during his lengthy spells on the sideline. Morale around the club is high at the moment. That’s something that hasn’t always been a given over the past couple seasons.

Dortmund won’t win the Bundesliga this year, but there’s still a lot to be played for. Peter Stöger’s boys are in second place, but it’s tight at the top of the table and it will still be a challenge to secure that runner-up spot. Reus also looked dangerous against Atalanta. Wouldn’t it be sweet to see him lift the Europa League trophy in Lyon later this year?

Don’t be surprised if he finds his way into the German team that Jogi Löw will take to the World Cup in Russia this June.

Obviously, the one qualifier here is that he stays healthy, but there is reason to be hopeful. BVB have done a great job lately of managing his fitness. They didn’t rush him back to action, and he’s now experiencing the fruits of that caution.

Reus was on the receiving end of a couple hard challenges in the first leg with Atalanta, but he kept getting back up. He won’t become the next Cristiano Ronaldo like some tabbed him to be, but his hardships have presented him with an equally impressive legacy.

He may fall down, but he always gets back up.