What's it like to face a young phenom like Messi, ...
Key takeaways
- The international popularity of football means that to even make the grade as a professional you must possess an almost freakish combination of skill and mental strength from an early age.
- - How a VHS tape helped Argentina beat Spain to recruit young Messi - What's it like to face Yamal, Mbappé?
- "It wasn't normal, the speed with which he drove the ball."
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
You might have heard tales of their triumphs in classrooms and playgrounds, or perhaps you became one of their unfortunate victims (in my youth it was Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed, who was also an infuriatingly good cricketer.) But chances are that your local legend didn't develop into a World Cup or Champions League winner.
The international popularity of football means that to even make the grade as a professional you must possess an almost freakish combination of skill and mental strength from an early age. It requires a prodigious talent who can run rings around all the other kids on the pitch and stun the watching adults too. And, even then, not every one of those prospects will make the grade as a professional, let alone become one of the best in the world.
- How a VHS tape helped Argentina beat Spain to recruit young Messi - What's it like to face Yamal, Mbappé? We asked the players who know - Curacao's Gervane Kastaneer: What the World Cup is like for a player