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Edited by Iti9 at 25-12-2023 12:55 PM
When it comes to the sports industry, it's quite challenging; the dedication and hardships they endure are beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Selected athletes are required to start training at a very young age, undergoing rigorous and demanding training. However, there is a unique group in the football world with experiences different from traditional players. They embarked on their journey later in life, achieving significant accomplishments.
Top 5: Not just an ordinary soldier – The Purple Lily War God: Gabriel Batistuta
Defeating unparalleled challenges, the Argentine forward, the soul of the Purple Lily, has consecutively entered the Hall of Fame for teams in Italy, Florence, and Rome. Who would believe that the War God was a latecomer to football? Batistuta, at 16, was still a genuine farmer, occasionally playing basketball during breaks. It was only at 16 that he was discovered and switched to football. Initially mocked by coaches and players for not knowing how to juggle the ball, he later became Argentina's best-ever striker, setting the national team's goal-scoring record.
Top 4: A new-generation grassroots legend – Chelsea: Edouard Mendy
The introduction of this player in Baidu Wenku consists of only three paragraphs: born in 1992, international from Senegal, joined the English powerhouse Chelsea on September 24, 2020. Edouard Mendy, a 28-year-old from Senegal, was a tourist six years ago, without a team to play for. Now he is about to land at the Premier League powerhouse, singing all the way, lifting the big-eared cup, selected for the Champions League Best XI – truly inspiring!
Top 3: Dishwasher with Chinese blood – Liverpool's backbone: Virgil van Dijk
Although Liverpool, after winning the Champions League, showed overall laxity with a lack of desire, one player made significant contributions to football. That's Dutch defender Van Dijk. In an interview, Van Dijk admitted that his mother has Chinese ancestry. In other words, Van Dijk has Chinese blood flowing in him, later confirmed to be fifth-generation! The legend related to a dishwasher goes like this: Van Dijk dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, and his goal team was Barcelona. Van Dijk was not optimistic about football and lacked sufficient talent. But he worked four hours a day washing dishes at a Breda-Oncle restaurant. His father always warned him: If you don't want to become a professional player, you should wash more dishes!
Top 2: World Cup's top scorer was once a carpenter – German striker: Miroslav Klose
Klose left us with memories starting from the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. In the not-so-optimistic situation of the German team, the striker position was supported by Klose. Klose celebrated his goals with somersaults as a trademark. At 24, Klose was gilded with the World Cup Silver Boot. Due to his short time with the German team, people had limited awareness of Klose. At 22, Klose should be considered a late bloomer. Klose had taken the artistic route by playing the piano or making a living as a carpenter. Fortunately, he had a father who also played football and had once played for Oesel. He firmly believed Klose could become a star, endowing him with a robust physique. In the end, there was no carpenter but a star named Klose!
Top 1: Taekwondo black belt expert – Swedish star: Zlatan Ibrahimović
A key figure for the Swedish national team, a globally renowned star who has played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United. As a black belt in Taekwondo, Ibrahimović's skill surpasses five parts of his professional career. But Ibrahimović cannot be labeled as dirty or evil because, compared to Nandongrong, North Pepe, and Van Bommel, Ibrahimović reports hatred on the spot. So, if you focus on practicing Taekwondo, winning a medal at the Olympics should not be a big problem, at least winning the Swedish Golden Ball three times.
I believe everyone has a dream in their hearts. A person's life is not determined by their background or parents but by themselves! |
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