What do you want to be when you grow up? Jose Fonte, by a mile

There was an older man in our neighbourhood who enjoyed watching us play non-league games. Once, he interfered in a discussion regarding one prodigious kid praised by many for his exceptional skills, speed and pace. Unlike the others, who were already worshipping the kid and predicting him a fruitful career in some big European clubs, the old man was sceptical of his future.

"Show me a boy who's slow, sluggish and undetermined at the age of 17? You won't find any. So, I'd rather wait to see him around 35, and then you ask me what I think of him. Everything else would be a genuine lottery, and I don't like that, "concluded the old man.

The Holy Spirit is gone

Albeit his exaggeration was purposedly blatant, he did have a point. Especially considering tons of those promising boys, who were lost somewhere between the adolescences and their 30's. Only a few have managed to go the other way around. To pursue a low-profile career in their 20's before a patient yet stellar growth in mature years, when most of their colleagues tend to slow down and face an inevitable decline.

Fonte celebrates the home title with Lille (©Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)

That different story is definitely Jose Fonte's one.

The 37-year-old Portuguese defender was somewhat anonymous even in his own country for most of the '00s. Outfits like Felgueiras, Vitoria Setubal, Pacos Fereira and Estrela Amadora don't ring a bell too much, just like his England Premier League choices - Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham.

Three years ago, he even decided to join the Chinese side Dalian, where he was totally out of reach of European managers and fans. But it was not an issue for the Portuguese national team coach Fernando Santos, who has chosen Fonte as his first defending choice ever since his arrival on the bench in 2014.

Fonte alongside Ronaldo for Portugal (©REUTERS/Hannah Mckay)

At that moment, Jose Fonte was already 31, but the experienced tactician though it's never too late for his debut. Since then, Fonte recorded as many as 45 appearances for the national side, won the EURO 2016 and will feature Portugal at the upcoming EURO 2020.

In the meantime, he returned to Europe, precisely to Lille and now enjoys their only fourth French title ever. Fonte started 37 of the 38 matches in the league campaign this season (as the captain) as Lille have conceded the fewest goals in Ligue 1. And he's nowhere near the end of his footballing journey.

If the old man from the beginning of the story were still alive, he would probably mention the Portuguese as a true example of his wisdom.