Amadou Onana #24

Profile

Onana could have won the African Cup of Nations final this year, since he was born in Senegal and only moved to Brussels at the age of 11. But he has always played for Belgium, where he is known as a stylish player, including off the pitch. He once reported for international duty wearing a men’s skirt. “Fashion is a realm where I find expression and creativity,” he says. “I enjoy experimenting with different looks and have even dabbled in designing my own pieces. Fashion, much like football, is a way for me to connect with people and share a part of myself with the world.” On the pitch, he is the Marouane Fellaini of his generation, not only because he played for Everton, but also because he’s a real powerhouse. And the best is yet to come. “One day, I’ll play for one of the five biggest clubs in the world”, he told La Dernière Heure. Who would have thought? Not the people at Anderlecht or Zulte Waregem, where his talent was overlooked. It was thanks to his sister and agent Melissa that he got noticed. She bought a video camera to film her brother at training, and sent the footage to numerous European clubs.

Key stats