England winger Rio Ngumoha is plotting his journey from Power League to the Ballon D’Or.
The 18-year-old is enjoying a rapid rise to stardom and is part of the England squad for Nations League matches with Croatia and Spain this week.
It is not that long ago that Ngumoha was growing up in a “tough area” in east London, where playing football with his friends ensured he kept on the straight and narrow.
He is now a Premier League star and wants to follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane by winning the Ballon D’Or.
“Growing up in Manor Park, everyone knows it’s a tough area,” he said. “But to be fair, I think the people around me and all my friends and family made sure I wasn’t a part of anything that was too rough.
“And I had football, which is a top, top escape route for things like crime and stuff.
“Wanstead flats. You also have like Mabley Green, Power League, Beckton. All of these places.
“So I think I’m just having my brother there, my mum, all my friends supporting me.
“They just knew to leave me out of all of that stuff so I could get to the top.
“We love football, so we don’t get caught up in any sort of trouble, which is good.
“And just having, like I said, having a strong support system around me, just to encourage me to just focus on football and also still be a kid, whether that’s just going out to play football or going out to the movies or something, just little things like that.”
Ngumoha burst onto the scene last season with Liverpool and it ended with him earning a place in England’s pre-World Cup camp, where he made a big impression.
He was rewarded with a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for games in September and October and he is dreaming big.
“(Kane winning) has also helped English football now because everyone’s seen one of us win the Ballon d’Or, it is definitely encouraging many more people to want to be known as the best player in the world,” he added.
“For me, I would like to achieve it and I think I can do it.
“I haven’t spoken to him much, really. When I first came, I was a bit shy, so I was keeping myself to myself, but then they got me in the group, and just watching him train, watching all the players train, but especially him, like the finishing drills that you see.
“You can see why he won it and why he’s known as the best striker, best player in the world.
“Definitely an inspiration to me, but just to every young player and probably every England player as well. He’s a top guy.”
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