Bakayo Sako has become England's Euro 2020 breakthrough star but the teetotal hero and straight-A student still lives with his Nigerian-born parents who always order him to go to bed early before big games.
His man of the match performance against the Czech Republic last night marks an extraordinary journey for the Arsenal winger, 19, who was born five miles from Wembley and is nicknamed 'little chilli' by teammates because he spices up attacks.
His Nigerian parents settled in Ealing when they came to the UK in the 1990s as economic migrants to give their unborn children a better life.
But while he wowed on the immaculate Wembley turf last night, it was a scrap of land outside his family's terraced house in west London where it all began. From the age of three he was playing football on a small green with his father Yomi and older brother Abayomi every night, who were so worn they had to beg him to go inside to bed.
His mother and father worked menial jobs to pay the bills while ferrying their son to football in the evenings and on weekends after he signed for Arsenal aged seven - but were clear that if he wanted to be a professional footballer he must also succeed at school.
Bakayo duly left Greenford High School in the summer of 2018 with four A*s and three As in his GCSEs, with his teachers describing him as 'the humble boy who achieved his dreams as well as a first-class education'.
The school's PE department tweeted last night: 'Bukayo Saka at Greenford High School: always ready to learn, so respectful towards staff and peers, wonderful family and top grades. Such a proud night!'.
After a brilliant season at Arsenal, where he became player of the year, and a turgid performance by England against Scotland last Friday, Saka showed his world class football skills when he replaced Phil Foden and sparked the team into life last night. He was also instrumental in Raheem Sterling's goal that saw England beat the Czechs 1-0 and win the group.
And like after every game, Bakayo, whose name hails from the West African Yoruba tribe and means 'adds to happiness' - will have FaceTimed his doting parents at full time.
Bukayo Saka dribbles past Tomas Holes as England beat the Czech Republic 1-0 in a man of the match performance
Bukayo was given a hug and a pat on the back after a brilliant game as he made his Euro 2020 debut
His football career began here on this green in Ealing, where he would play every night with his brother and father from the age of three
After a barnstorming first half Arsenal legend Ian Wright said Saka was 'burdened with glorious purpose' - the motto of Marvel anti-hero Loki, the trickster god and adopted son of Odin and brother of Thor.
Sako drove England forward last night and was instrumental in Raheem Sterling's winning goal
While Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has given him the nickname 'Little chilli', because he 'spices up' the team, even buying him a jacket with a jewel-encrusted red chilli and Saka's sewed along the front.
His family is his anchor,
