Pele to Rashford, a long line of athletes to admire

In late October, history tells us, artists have arrived to change us. It is when Picasso was born, Johann Strauss Jr showed up and Pele set foot on the planet. The Brazilian in fact has a birthday two days before mine and as a boy this minor coincidence became hugely significant. The same week? Surely I would play like him? This notion was quickly extinguished, but we remain companions on the calendar.

Pele turned 80 last week, his face an ancient landscape, but if you grew up with him he will always be the man leaping into the air after a goal. Gravity was among the many things he defied. He was my first football hero and Marcus Rashford is my most recent figure of admiration. As times change so do the people we look up to.