Every young football fan dreams of getting close to the action, and for some, the best seat in the house is being a ball boy. But for a select few, that role was just the beginning of a journey that would take them from the sidelines to the spotlight. Here are some inspiring stories of former ball boys who grew up to become professional football stars.
Phil Foden
Years ago, a young Phil Foden watched his heroes at Manchester City, serving as a ball boy when Stevan Jovetic scored against Swansea. That wide-eyed youngster has since come full circle, growing into a key player for City himself. In a nostalgic social media post, Foden shared a photo from his days as a ball boy alongside a shot of him scoring in the English Premier League, captioning it, “How it started… how it’s going.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Few ball boys get caught up in a player’s celebration, but Callum Hudson-Odoi had a moment in the spotlight at just 13 years old. During a Chelsea match against Manchester United in 2014, he was on the sidelines when Samuel Eto’o completed his hat-trick. Eto’o celebrated by reaching out to young Hudson-Odoi, who was beaming with excitement. Years later, Hudson-Odoi would go on to play for Chelsea himself, making that day even more memorable.
Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder began his journey with Ajax’s youth academy in 1991, spending his early years surrounded by some of the best players of the era. While still a ball boy, he got a photo with veteran Frank Rijkaard, then a major star at the club. That snapshot with Rijkaard seemed to foreshadow Sneijder’s future in football, as he went on to become a top player for both Ajax and the Netherlands.
Carlos Tevez
In an old photo, a young Carlos Tevez stands beside Boca Juniors icon Juan Roman Riquelme, looking like he’s already dreaming of his own career in football. Tevez grew up through the Boca ranks, making his debut as a teenager and later returning to the club as a celebrated player. The photo with Riquelme marked the start of Tevez’s journey, as he eventually became a Boca legend himself, adored by fans alongside the club’s other icons.
Bernardo Silva
Before his rise at Manchester City, Bernardo Silva had a special connection to Benfica. As a young fan and academy player, he was a ball boy at a UEFA Europa League match against Napoli in 2008. Silva’s passion for the game was evident even then, as he watched his favorite players from the sidelines. Years later, his journey took him across Europe, where he became a standout player on some of the biggest stages.
Donny van de Beek
At Ajax, part of the journey from academy player to professional is spending time as a ball boy. Donny van de Beek took this responsibility with pride, and it gave him the chance to meet some of his heroes, including Luis Suarez. A throwback photo shows the young van de Beek standing beside Suarez, a moment that stayed with him as he worked his way up the ranks to become a professional.
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Matthijs de Ligt
Another Ajax product, Matthijs de Ligt also got his start on the sidelines. During his time as a ball boy, he too managed to snap a photo with Suarez. De Ligt went on to become a top defender, eventually moving to Juventus and now Manchester United, where he plays at the highest level.
Brahim Diaz
In 2012, Brahim Diaz was a ball boy at Malaga, watching as Santi Cazorla and Isco celebrated a goal right in front of him. Fast forward several years, and Diaz joined Real Madrid, where he had the chance to play alongside Isco. Their connection came full circle when Diaz provided an assist for an Isco goal, leading Isco to share the moment online with the caption, “You make me feel old,” highlighting their unique journey from ball boy to teammates.
These stories show that dreams often start close to the action. For those inspired by these players, joining iLOTBET offers a unique way to connect with the game.
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