SADIO MANE has always had the ability to dream big.
And he had to as a kid who could not have been further away from a football future.
His dreams persuaded him to run away from his tiny village in the south of Senegal, hiding his bag at the end of the lawn so he could sneak out in the early hours on his way to the capital Dakar.
Those dreams eventually took him to Premier League and Champions League glory, but only after a tortuous route, via the Generation Foot Academy, their links with French club Metz, and then Austria with Red Bull Salzburg.
He would be the first to admit that dream has been fulfilled in glorious fashion but now he has another.
Only one African footballer has won the Ballon d'Or.
But this year, after steering his country to Africa Cup of Nations glory and winning two trophies in England - the honor is close again for a player from that continent.
This story is from the May 27, 2022 edition of Irish Daily Mirror.
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This story is from the May 27, 2022 edition of Irish Daily Mirror.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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