Pursuing big goals on and off the field

Lionel Messi is regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time. Like many children across the globe, Iker, a 15-year-old from Mexico’s Chiapas state, has always looked up to Messi. Iker wasn’t only drawn to Messi because he is the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer. What resonated with Iker is that despite always being the shortest on the team, Messi’s speed and ball control have always made him a strong player.

As Messi prepares to play in his sixth World Cup, Iker continues to be inspired by what Messi represents: regardless of size, with perseverance and belief, we can do big and meaningful things.

Shaped by adversity

After watching his older brother’s soccer games, Iker became fascinated by the energy and teamwork of the game. He constantly asked his mother to let him play, and when he was 6 years old, she finally agreed.

Iker’s size put him at a disadvantage, especially against the older children when he was on his brother’s team.

“It was difficult because of my height,” he said. “Since I didn’t train much and I had to play with the older players...I was afraid.”

Like Messi, Iker learned to adapt to his circumstances and capitalize on his strengths. As a central defender, he must think quickly to organize his defensive line and make offensive guiding calls to midfielders and strikers.

Iker looks up to Messi as a role model for his determination on and off the field, and dreams of one day becoming a professional soccer player.

“He has very good skills, he has so much speed and he inspires me because since I was young, I have been short, and his story is that he was also short…so I am going to be like him.”

Finding purpose off the field

While soccer has taught him discipline and commitment, Iker’s ambitions extend beyond the field.

His town in the Chiapas state of Mexico is primarily known for agriculture and its indigenous communities like his, the Zoque people. When he’s not in school or playing soccer, Iker helps his parents plant crops like squash, corn and beans.

Iker’s deep understanding of how poverty affects education, resources and financial stability for the people in his community has sparked ambitions beyond the pitch.

In his early years, just as Iker began dreaming about one day being a soccer pro, he also decided he would continue studying and one day become a lawyer to serve those families who can’t afford the legal guidance they often need.

“I’ve seen on the news that there’s a lot of inequality affecting low-income people,” he said. “They’re often thought to not have the knowledge about what they’re going through. That’s always stood out to me, defending them.”

Much like with his beloved game, Iker does not want anyone to feel like they are too small to matter. He wants to use his voice to give hope to the little guy just like soccer and Messi have given him.

Opening opportunities through sponsorship

Iker has never backed down from a challenge.

When Iker was 8 years old, all he wanted was his own pair of soccer cleats. Economic hardship made that seem impossible. Through sponsorship, that dream, along with many others like education, has become more attainable.

Sponsorship support has helped cover educational needs and expenses related to soccer like transportation to games, registration and equipment, allowing him to continue developing as a player.

Iker’s sponsor has played an important role in his growth, offering both financial support and personal encouragement, fueling his goals.

Iker described his sponsor as a truly selfless person.

“She motivates me mainly in my studies, in the letters she sends me, she tells me to give it my all,” he said. “I’ve always believed in aiming for the top, and she motivates [me to do that].”

A future worth building

As Iker cheers on Messi during the World Cup, he knows the two are united by a shared purpose to inspire hope in those who feel small. Iker is chasing more than success; he is pursuing change.

“I want to move beyond where I live and become someone well-known,” he said. “I don’t want to be just another face in the crowd — I want to stand out, work hard, earn money and help my family financially.”

Unbound’s regional reporter in Guatemala, Oscar Tuch, along with Unbound Kuxtal staff, contributed information and photos for this story.