Phil Foden has gone from mascot to star man at Manchester City in just 13 years.
The 20-year-old is living the dream at the moment, playing regularly for his boyhood club and churning in stunning performances - as we saw in the 4-1 thrashing of Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Foden, a ball boy and academy product, was given his City first-team debut by Pep Guardiola in a Champions League game against Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium in 2017.
But that wasn't the first time he walked out onto the pitch at Eastlands. City have shared footage of a seven-year-old Foden holding the hand of Martin Petrov when he was mascot for the Blues' 1-0 win over Sunderland way back in November 2007.
Years before he got slits in his eye-brows and was nicknamed 'the Stockport Iniesta', little Foden was wearing his full City home strip and had a beaming smile on his face throughout.
Foden, who has a mum who is also a City fan but a dad and brother who support United, had fond memories of the experience - but did reveal he actually wanted to walk out with Micah Richards initially.
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"I did want to walk out with Micah Richards, I ended up changing to Petrov," he told Sky Sports.
"I got to take a few shots at Joe Hart as well & then I was in the same changing room as him."
Five years on, Foden had the perfect view of Sergio Aguero's dramatic last-gap title winner against Queens Park Rangers and was one of the the fans that went on the pitch.
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"I was right behind the goal and saw it go in the net - I'll never forget it," Foden told BBC.
"I remember the whistle went and everyone legged it on to the pitch! Me and my mum decided to go on as well.
"I remember seeing Aguero getting swarmed and security guards around him trying to get him to the tunnel. It was just full of people; you couldn't move.
"It was massive. I knew how big it was. I could tell by the reaction around me how big it was.
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"I don't think it will ever be done like that again; it was a special memory."
Foden has since collected two Premier League winners' medals himself, as well as assisting Aguero for his 200th City goal.
But at present, with over 100 appearances under his belt, Foden has become a key player for his beloved City.
Following his masterclass against Liverpool, the England international now has 16 goals and assists in all competitions for the league leaders and is being talked about as "a £200 million pound player".
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Phil Foden, Football News, Football
