Football fortune

Three pillars of your career

Club journey

1. Age 18–20RYQRufisque Blue Yellow44 matches · 5 goals
2. Age 20–21IRQIstanbul Gold Red38 matches · 5 goals
3. Age 21–26MAQMan Red161 matches · 30 goals
4. Age 26–30MRQMerseyside Red157 matches · 29 goals
5. Age 30–34FCVellora United (Semi-professional)59 matches · 7 goals

Key moments

1. Age 15

   After training, coach Cheikh Ndao invites you for a quiet tea by the touchline, asking about your home life and the pressure you carry.

2. Age 18

   Your first professional contract: Rufisque Blue Yellow · $6,002/year

3. Age 18

   You have reached the world top 1000

4. Age 18

   The decisive final league match (2044): You lose the ball at a crucial moment; score 1–1

5. Age 18

   Serigne Cissé pulls you aside: 'Don't jump to Rufisque Blue Yellow yet, lad. Stay here, play games, and harden up. You aren't ready for that shark tank.'

6. Age 19

   A national call-up · 1 caps

7. Age 25

   The decisive final league match (2051): You lose the ball at a crucial moment; score 0–2

8. Age 26

   You join Merseyside Red

Injuries

Total injuries: 49 · Career weeks out: 107

Most serious injury
Age 16 · Meniscus tear

Epilogue

13 professional years; $0 sent home; enough to live on for life.

Football coach

Your life card