[heyheyhey]

> The argument would only apply to star soccer players.

What do you mean by star players? If you're talking Big Five + MLS players, then you pretty much either need to be an academy or high level club (ECNL in USA for example) at a young age to have a chance.

Iniesta was part of La Masia, the youth academy for FC Barcelona. Messi/CR7 both played for the youth clubs of professional teams.