Mario Balotelli is quickly growing into one of the best striker's in soccer and as his personal brand continues to grow on an international scale, the 23-year-old is set on helping his national team -- along with his club team AC Milan -- win multiple titles while remaining a role model around the world. Tabbed as Sports Illustrated's "Most interesting man in the world (soccer edition)," Balotelli was the cover man for the latest edition of the popular sports magazine.
Appearing to walk on water for one of the photos, the talented scorer notes that while soccer is important, fighting racism is something he feels very strong about and indicates that he is a big supporter of United States President Barack Obama. A person who was tabbed as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people, Balotelli isn't big into politics but can relate to the President since the two individuals share many of the same ideals and the soccer star views President Obama as a pioneer.
"I've never cared about politics, but I think he is a great man," Balotelli noted. "Obama can be like a new start for everybody. Just the fact that he's black and he's the first one. You can't delete racism. It's like a cigarette. You can't stop smoking if you don't want to, and you can't stop racism if people don't want to. But I'll do everything I can to help."
Time Magazine also noted that even though Balotelli is a true warrior on the pitch, he is someone deserving of admiration because of his kindness, humor and because he is extremely humble.
"From afar, people may think he's a madman, but he isn't," Time's Gianfranco Zola wrote about the player. "Mario is a lovely guy, very humble and very funny. I can assure people he has always been a pleasure to deal with. He has returned to Italy from England as the main man with lots of attention. Now he has to ensure he keeps control and keeps focus. Mario loves the pressure, but to succeed, it is about finding balance."
The SI cover notes that Balotelli is a player capable of drawing a red card for his sometimes over-the-top passion while also referring to him as the face of "AC Milan, friend to popes and prime ministers and the face of the new Europe."
Showing the player walking on water served another interesting purpose as well.
With the Italian national team slated to play Lionel Messi and the Argentine nationals earlier this month, Balotelli was given the opportunity to meet Pope Francis one-on-one. Though Pope Francis is of Argentine descent and is a fan of Leo Messi, the Pontiff was looking forward to meeting Balotelli. The symbol of him 'walking on water' for the SI cover is obviously a fun play on something Catholics consider to be an impossible act only ever done by Jesus Christ.
Balotelli's AC Milan will begin the 2013-2014 season on August 24 with a contest against Verona.
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