Five interesting facts you might not know about Real Betis star Nabil Fekir

Nabil Fekir. Picture/ AFP

Nabil Fekir provides moments of pure magic. On LaLiga Santander Matchday 28, during Real Betis' home match against Levante UD, he scored a superb solo goal that Maradona himself would have been proud of. But his contribution to the team goes much further. With three goals and six assists, this season with just 9 games remaining-, the French international has been key to the Verdiblancos good season. Manuel Pellegrini's team is entering the final stage of LaLiga Santander 2020/21 fighting to qualify for European competitions, with Fekir leading the charge. Here are five things you might not know about the attacker, who won the World Cup in 2018:

• Nabil Fekir grew up in Jaques Monod, a suburb of Villerbaunne in Lyon (France). A neighbourhood where opportunities are scarce. From a very young age he stood out with the ball at his feet and that led to him receiving the call from Olympique de Lyon at just 12 years old.

• The French midfielder has a small scar on his face after a bowl of boiling oil fell on him when he was a child.

• At just 14 years old, Olympique de Lyon passed on the opportunity to sign Fekir as he suffered from Osgood-Schlatter Disease, a disease that causes swelling and pain in the legs during adolescence. After playing for other teams, Lyon got him back by including his driver's license fee in the contract.

• Fekir is the third world champion to play for Real Betis, after Nery Pumpido (Argentina 1986) and Denilson de Oliveira (Brazil 2002).

• This 2020/21 season, as of Matchday 28, Nabil Fekir ranks third for most completed dribbles in LaLiga Santander