man running behind red ball

Many players at the World Cup got their start in the streets of the towns and cities they grew up in. Before the money, before the fame, and before the glory, their games were played on roads, pavements, and small fields. There was no celebrity status involved: they played for the love of the game. It brought them into another own world, and for a few moments, they could share the world with those around them. While our family went up ahead, it was just the boy and the ball: for a few moments, I got to step into the world that so many individuals around the world live and breathe in.