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Curtains have been drawn on the FIFA World Cup 2018 but euphoria surrounding the 'greatest show on the earth' still lingers. While France have emerged as the winner in the quadrennial showpiece event, footballers of Croatia and Belgium managed to etch their names in the memory of football fans around the globe. While all the players managed to attarct attentions, five footballers have been touted as the shining stars of this world cup by soccer pundits. The early life of France's Kylian Mbappe, Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard and custodian Thibaut Courtois, Croatia's midfield general Luka Modric to England striker Harry Kane have along with the education and their upbringing has played a pivotal role in making them the players that they are today. Here is what you need to know about the educational background of these athletes. (Reuters)
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Kylian Mbappe: Born in 1998, this French winger became the youngest French player to score at a World Cup during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also became the second teenager to score a goal at a World cup Final after the football king Pele. Mbappé also won the Best Young Player Award at the World Cup this year. Mbappe was enrolled for the youth academy at Bondy at a very young age after which he moved to French football club Monaco, where he made his professional debut in the year of 2015. Nearly 3 years ago, Kylian Mbappe passed his French high school exams and alongside prepared to play for Monaco in an under-19s tournament, according to a BBC report. In 2017 the now 19-year-old striker had joined Paris St-Germain, initially on a loan, but later went on to become the second most expensive player after Brazil's Neymar. Mbappe is also a graduate of France's Clairefontaine academy. (Reuters)
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Eden Hazard: Born in the year 1991, Hazard led his national team, Belgium, to win the bronze in 2018 FIFA World Cup. He won the Silver Ball as he was the second best player of the tournament followed by Antoine Griezmann at the third spot. Hazard in the past has represented his nation at under-17 and under-19 level. At the domestic level, Hazard has been playing for Chelsea since 2012 but he could soon be signed by Spanish giants Real Madrid or Barcelona. Football has been a major part of Hazard's life as his parents played the sport. While his mother played as a striker in the Belgian Women's First Division, his father spent most of his career at semi-professional level with La Louvière in the Belgian Second Division. At a young age of 4, Hazard began playing for the Royal Stade Brainois, where he spent for eight years. In 2005, he joined French side Lille and spent two years developing in the club's local sports school. (Reuters)
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Luka Modric: Born on September 9, 1985, Croatia's Luka Modric spent his early years facing situations that no child would ever want to go through. However, nothing came into his way as he led his national football team, Croatia to the 2018 World Cup Final. While the team missed the coveted prize, Modric received the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament. Currently he plays for Real Madrid.Modric's childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence, which forced his family to flee their home. While his father joined the Croatian Army, his grandfather was executed by Croatian Serb rebels. But nothing could stop Luka from playing his favourite sport, football. While thousands of bombs fell on the city, Modrić began playing football but mostly at the hotel parking lot. It was in 1992, that he entered the primary school and a sporting academy. (Reuters)
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Thibaut Courtois: Born on May 11, 1992, Thibaut Courtois, the 6 ft 6 Belgian goalkeeper won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Apart from representing his national team, Courtois currently plies his trade for Chelsea. According to a report by the Guardian, at school, Courtois studied modern languages and passed every grade without any problems. but he struggled to keep a balance between school and football. While he attended daily training sessions at the club, he also had six hours a week of goalkeeping at school and two hours of gymnastics. (Reuters)
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Harry Kane: Born in 1993, England's Harry Kane won the Golden Boot for finishing as the top goalscorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament. He is also start marksman for the Tottenham Hotspur football club. Kane was born in Walthamstow, London. After his family moved to Chingford, he attended the Larkswood Primary Academy until 2004. Following this, he attended that Chingford Foundation School. Kane started playing football from a young age after joining a local club Ridgeway Rovers when he was six years old. (Reuters)
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