The Greek Messi

He’s short, left-footed, prodigiously gifted and selected his club because they agreed to pay for the growth hormone treatment he needed. The description of Ioannis Fetfatzidis as “the Greek Messi” is both understandable and apt.

“He’s not Messi, but he too is special,” said the Greek great Vassilis Hatzipanagis. “This kid is something else. And what I like most about him is despite all the fuss around and for him, he remains grounded.”

That grounded nature really is striking; Fetfatzidis is either astonishingly well media-trained, or genuinely humble and at ease with his talent.