Awer Mabil, an international football star who was born at a refugee camp in Kenya, has made it into history books just days after sending the Australian national team to Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Mabil has become the first outfield Australian player to play in the Spanish top flight for 16 years after signing a four-year contract with Cadiz FC on Friday, June 24.
The 26-year-old Soccer winger confirmed his signing, detailing that it is a dream come true.
"I'm very happy to join Cadiz FC and play in La Liga. It is a dream come true for me and my family. I am looking forward to meeting everyone soon and beginning the hard work to bring joy and success to our fans," Mabil wrote on his official social media page.
He recalled an incident year ago when he was told that a move to a top-flight league was never going to happen.
At a time when he was struggling for game time at Danish club Midtjylland, Mabil revealed he was told by someone with a strong influence on his career that he didn’t have what it takes to play at a higher level.
"I still remember this message, Somebody told me that I wasn’t good enough to play for a top-five league,” Mabil said. "That somebody is probably not happy now, but I took that as a motivation.
"I told them I will call you in one year’s time when I am playing in a top-five league. Maybe that phone call will be due after my debut."
He joins John Aloisi who became the first Australian outfield player to sign for a Spanish top flight side.
The Kenyan refugee made headlines after taking a decisive penalty that sent Australia to Qatar world cup scheduled for November 21.
Mabil took the decisive penalty during the spot-kick against Peru.
The global star found himself in Kenya after his parents fled conflict in Sudan and the Kenyan government resettled them in the Kakuma refugee camp.
He is now using his past stories and skills to impact and motivate other refugees across different parts of the world.