Moises Caicedo watched the images of the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil on a TV set up in the street in his home city of Santa Domingo in Ecuador.
The spectacle inspired a 12-year-old boy to want to become a professional footballer and this year it will be Caicedo that his mates will be watching in Qatar.
The 21-year-old Brighton midfielder, signed for just £5million last year from Independiente del Valle, is already one of the hottest properties in world football despite having started just 22 Premier League games, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea among those reported to be tracking him.
And his transfer value estimated at £80million plus could soar further at the World Cup if he impresses in Group A games against the hosts in the opening game on Sunday, the Netherlands and Senegal.
There is something of the Roy Keane in the way the dynamic Caicedo is everywhere on the pitch and dominating and snapping away at far more experienced players in the English top flight.
He said: “The last time Ecuador were at the World Cup in 2014 we didn’t get out of our group. But, from that moment, I felt I had to get into the national team and, with work and dedication, I could be at a World Cup. I am going to achieve that, if God allows, thanks to lots of work and dedication.
“I was 12 then and I watched the games out with friends. We set up a screen out in the street in my neighbourhood in Santo Domingo and watched the games there.
How do you think Ecuador will do at the World Cup? Comment here
“I knew then I had to become a professional footballer. Now my friends and all my neighbourhood are there watching my games. They will be out there during this World Cup, for sure.
“When I’ve played with Brighton and the national team, they have sent me videos of them out there watching in the street on the TV screen they set up. That’s really exciting and emotional for me.
“We have players to look out for in Pervis Estupinan, Gonzalo Plata, Piero Martin Hincapie…a lot of youngsters. Jeremy Sarmiento and others I could also mention. But every player will play his part in the national team.
“I think if people are asking if it would be a failure to reach the last 16, then it’s because they know the potential we have. I am convinced we are working very hard to be noticed in the World Cup and get out of the group. We want our names to be spoken about around the world.
“I think my game reflects a lot of Kante and Pogba. They are still my idols and I think you can see a lot of their game in mine because they help me. Watching their videos helps me lot.
In truth most teams wanted to get Qatar as the top seed in their group, and victory in the opening game could set Ecuador up nicely for the rest of the initial phase. But Caicedo is avoiding any complacency.
He added: “The group looks very difficult. We expect it to be tough but all the players are in good form and ready to get to the next stage, which is what we want. Qatar is a good team but who wouldn’t want to be involved in game which opens this World Cup?
"It’s another motivation playing in the first game, another happiness. But we are expecting Qatar to be a good team. The first game is the most important and we want a good result.
"Our players have all been working hard at their clubs and we are really happy to have that consistency. The goals haven’t been wanting to go in for us so much recently but I’m sure they will arrive in the World Cup from our front players especially.”
