Ibrahima Konate lived almost in the shadow of the Stade de France, but it has been a long, tough journey to make his first appearance there.
The French defender is THE story of the Champions League final. The son of Malian immigrants to Paris, one of eight children, who used to play in the cages of the capital, sometimes using a ball made of paper and sellotape.
Now, he will be part of the Liverpool squad which takes on the mighty Real Madrid in the famous stadium which was built just a year before he was born, and he wants to be an inspiration to all kids from similar backgrounds, to show it is still possible to go from street football to stadium glory.
