From normal Liverpool lad to Ballon D'or 2019 nominee: Trent Alexander-Arnold's message about city's future generation is more powerful than ever
"I was once that kid in a Gerrard or Carragher shirt"
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has achieved another impressive landmark so early in his illustrious career by being named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or.
The 21-year-old from West Derby finds himself in esteemed company and the defender's words from earlier this year about the future generation of Liverpool are even more powerful than ever now.
After helping his side clinch the Champions League in June of this year in Madrid, an eye-catching mural of him was painted on a terrace house near Anfield in August.
The three-storey tall image of the Liverpool right-back is emblazoned on a property at the corner of Sybil Street and Anfield Road.
Trent Alexander-Arnold details his brothers' selfless sacrifices that helped him become a Liverpool superstarWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
It was arranged by LFC fan podcast The Anfield Wrap as a way to commemorate Trent's incredible achievements so early on in his career - and to inspire other youngsters.
When seeing it for the first time alongside his older brother Tyler, Trent shared an important message to young people in the city about the mural and what he hopes it will mean to others.
Now, as Trent is named alongside some of the world's best players like Sergio Aguero, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, his words are more poignant than ever.
Speaking to the ECHO at the mural's official unveiling in August , he said: "The main message that kids should be picking up from me and my story is that anything is possible and anything can happen - because I was once that kid in a Gerrard or Carragher shirt.
"They were the players who were the local ones in the team and they were the ones who made me feel as though anything can happen.
"It wasn't the players coming in, but the lads who said they were just normal lads in Liverpool and it's just a cycle of being a normal lad and being able to see people living their dream and living your dream.
"Hopefully that's the message the young people are picking up from what's happening."
Liverpool player's amazing hidden treasure trove found in back of wardrobeThe mural is certainly popular with youngsters in the area, with a steady stream of young boys and girls in Trent shirts coming to the street every day to pose for photos.
Painted by Akse, a French graffiti artist who painted the Klopp mural in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle , the piece was made also possible by MGS Estates allowing for the transformation of the side of their building.
Trent admitted he thought it was a "wind up" but said seeing the massive mural so close to the ground left him pinching himself.
He said: "I thought it was a wind up at first but when I realised it was real, it's something you always dream of but you never realise that this could happen.
"It's something to be incredibly proud of and something that me and my family are over the moon with and I just want to say thank you to everyone that made it happen."
He added: "You can never quite think that this sort of thing will happen and that you're going to end up with this on the side of a building.
"It's something that's kind of taken me by surprise but something that I've always wanted to happen. To get to this point, maybe it's come a bit early, but to be a part of something like this is incredible."
The mural also used highlights an important community cause - Fans Supporting Foodbanks - and to try and make people more aware of the work they do in the area.
Speaking about the mural's important message, Trent said: "It'll be good seeing all the fans with it and hopefully get some more support for the foodbanks - that's the main reason that it's there at the end of the day.
Top news stories
"It's not just the picture obviously, it's important that message that's there. Hopefully it'll raise a bit more awareness and let people know they can give back whenever they can and it's always there for the good of the city to try and get rid of the poverty and the people going hungry.
"The pictures don't even do it justice even though you know that it's amazing in the pictures, in real life it's amazing and something that hopefully will stay for a while."
Trent's Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum were all also named on the shortlist for the prestigious award.
The winner of the prize will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, December 2.