Sometimes, when you see kids around the world clad in the kits of Barcelona or Manchester United, obsessing over Lionel Messi or Robin van Persie rather than their local team or league, the game can feel too globalised.
But then you get the reverse. As is the case with Mohamed Aboutrika, who next Sunday may well play his final game of club football when Al Ahly take on Orlando Pirates in the return leg of the African Champions League final. The first leg finished 1-1, with Aboutrika scoring the opener.
The Egypt attacking midfielder may be the greatest footballer in the world never to have played in Europe or South America. Heck, he may well be the greatest ever in that category.
And yet, to