Southampton's previous boy wonder Romeo Lavia recalled his memorable meeting with Premier League legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Without a doubt, playing in the Premier League is a dream come true moment for any player. That becomes more special when one is a teenager tasting his initial experience of top-flight football.
If this scenario feels exciting, how about fulfilling a childhood wish as well? Often times, that comprises of getting a chance to meet an all-time legend, if not sharing the pitch with them.
Even though it seems a far fetched thought, some selected prodigies do end up fulfilling all of these milestones. One of those is Southampton's former midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Former Southampton midfielder picks Premier League legend in his pinnacle moment
The defence oriented playmaker spent one year at St. Mary's but left a lasting impression among the Saints. The club would also have preferred to keep him on their roster for longer but Chelsea's tempting offer didn't let them do that.
Though Lavia has endured a challenging time at Chelsea, the 21-year-old's Premier League emergence has been exemplary.
Recently, Lavia also spoke to Rising Ballers about his inspiring progress at length. Upon being asked his pinnacle career moment, the Belgian fondly remembered facing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Roméo Lavia has said that playing against Cristiano Ronaldo is the highlight of his career so far 👀🐐
— Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) February 10, 2025
From watching him on TV to playing against him in the Premier League & becoming an @EASPORTSFC Future Star himself. What a journey 👏🤝 pic.twitter.com/NwQfvU8G9N
In his own words, Lavia said: "That moment, I remember as if it was yesterday. When he came onto the pitch, it's like time stopped. I wasn’t focused on the game anymore. I was just looking at him for a good two minutes. Yeah, that's definitely the moment that’s been the highlight of my career."
The game Lavia is referring to also came during his glorious Southampton days. Although the Saints lost there too, they provided a tough competition to Manchester United.
One, which should be replicated against Bournemouth in Saturday's derby. Let's stay optimistic that the result here also compliments the Saints' performance.