Sadio Mane sat sheepishly, almost embarrassed. He was watching himself score the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick. “I got lucky again,” he muttered." I don’t even know how long it took. It was just a goal for the team.” It was so much more than that. It was history. It was a record that still stands to this day. But his humility refused to accept the well-deserved fanfare. Instead he sat quietly, sporting a nervous smile. Proud, yes, but typically modest.

And that unassuming nature has no doubt played a major part in Mane’s continued success at the top of the game. When Senegal qualified for the 2018 World Cup and were judged to be Africa’s greatest hope in the competition, every preview focused on their talisman and greatest talent. Having helped take Liverpool to the Champions League final and secured their place in the competition for 2018-19, the pressure on Mane was ramped up further still. From a city counting on you, to an entire country.

The key lies in understanding your responsibility without letting it drag you down. It is an incredibly difficult balance to pull off, but there are few better than Mane at doing exactly that. He is a smiling footballer, with an appreciation of how fortunate he is to be such an important cog for club, city and nation. He embraces the pressure.