Is Andrea Bocelli blind? There's a sports reason behind opera singer's sight loss

There's no question that Andrea Bocelli will be the center of attention when he performs during the Opening Ceremonies at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday. Bocelli's voice is expected to stop time for a global audience of millions. 

But before the Italian opera singer takes the stage at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, many fans continue to ask one question - is he blind? 

The short answer is, yes. But the reason behind the opera singer's vision loss might surprise you. 

At a glance: 

• Andrea Bocelli was born with Congenital Glaucoma, but he was not fully blind at birth
• He completely lost his sight at age 12
• A brain hemorrhage was triggered by a soccer ball hitting his eye
• Bocelli won't see anything when he performs at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Andrea Boecelli wasn't born blind

Bocelli wasn't born completely blind. He lost his vision in a freak sports accident. 

As a young child, the 67-year-old opera singer was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma, a condition that causes high pressure in the eyes. But, he could still see colors and light. 

The Grammy-nominated singer, who grew up on his family's farm near Tuscany, Italy, always had limited vision, but it wasn't fully gone. 

"I was considered extremely short-sighted. I could see everything, but only from up close," Bocelli shared during his 2024 documentary "Because I believe." "I remember extremely well the world I saw. Colors, everything. How could I forget those memories?"

He was injured in a soccer accident

When he was 7-years-old, Bocelli left his family's home to live at a school with other visually-impaired children. It was there, at the age of 12, where he was hit in the face by a soccer ball, while playing goalie. 

The freak accident resulted in a brain hemorrhage that destroyed his remaining vision. 

Despite his disability, Bocelli says it's his mother who's pushed him to continue striving to attain his dreams. 

 “My mother was really a very strong woman,” he told "Deadline." 

“She wouldn’t have it if I went to her complaining about some sort of problem. ‘How do I do this? How do I do that?’ She goes, ‘Make do on your own. You can do it. That’s it. No excuses. Figure it out.’”

He says blindness doesn't define him

Being blind is just one part of Bocelli's life, and he says he refused to let it define him. 

During a 2011 interview with the "Telegraph," the Italian singer said "it should be of no more interest than my blood type."

"People wonder if there is a relationship between my lack of sight and the way I sing. But there's no connection. Losing my sight had nothing to do with my focus on music," he said thoughtfully. 

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