Poverty is a huge problem around the world as millions of people have no access to proper food, basic goods and services, education, medicine and everything that the world has to offer. For many underprivileged kids football has become the only way to get a decent living, the only hope and passion. Here are some of the most touching stories of famous players, who have gone all the way from tough childhood to glory and success.

Antonio Valencia

When you are born in the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador in the 1980s, you don’t have many options in your life. You are either poor or involved in drug business. Antonio lived with his parents and six siblings in a bungalow and got used to working hard since childhood. He used to collect used bottles and deposit them, helped his mother and did all sorts of work he could find. In his spare time he played football barefoot. At the age of 16 Antonio got an offer to join the Quito-based club El Nacional and embarked on the biggest journey of his life. He did not even tell his father about his decision, borrowed some money from his elder brother and took a bus to the capital. Later on Antonio confessed he had no idea where he would sleep and what he would eat but his ambition was his guiding star. After impressing at Nacional, he got an offer from Europe and played for Villarreal, Recreativo, Wigan and, finally, Manchester United. Despite becoming a world-class player under Sir Alex Ferguson, Valencia remained a humble guy and a role model for many boys.

Mario Balotelli

A whole different story happened to Mario Balotelli. He was born to a family of Ghanaian immigrants in Palermo, Sicily, and, naturally, lived in poverty. Besides, he had serious health issues as a child, so his parents had to ask for the help of social services. As a result, the three-year-old boy was placed in foster care. His fostering parents Silvia and Francesco Balotelli were of Italian-Jew descent and took care of the boy on workdays. Later on he adopted their last name and received an Italian citizenship at the age of 18. Following the start of his successful football career, his biological parents claimed they were still close to their son, but Mario refused to accept them and claimed the Balotellis are his true family. He then went on to play for Inter, Manchester City, Milan, Liverpool, Nice and Italy national team.

Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez was born into a poor family in a small town of Tocopilla in the north of Chile. His father left the family when Alexis was a toddler, so his mother had to raise four children on her own. The kids did whatever they could to help the family, and Alexis would clean cars and entertain people with somersaults and other gymnastic tricks. At the same time, he found time to play football and later on impressed Cobreloa scouts. His career blossomed and Alexis went on to play for Udinese, River Plate, Colo-Colo, Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United. The player once confessed he would probably be a mine worker if he hadn’t become a football player. He is grateful for what football did to him and is ashamed of his father, preferring to put his first name on the shirt.

Victor Moses

Victor Moses was born in Nigerian city of Lagos into a family of a Christian pastor. In 2002 his parents were killed during religious massacre between Muslims and Christians and the boy was lucky to escape to England with the help of his relatives. He was later fostered by a London family and started playing for an amateur team. Later on he was spotted by Crystal Palace scouts and offered a chance to join the club’s academy. Victor’s career progressed and the player went on to play for Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, West Ham United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

There are many more players who have gone all the way from poverty, family issues and tragedies to success on the football pitch. It’s impossible to name all of them. However, what’s important to remember is that everybody has a chance to change his life. Hard work, dedication and some luck is what’s required to make a step to better life.