Adalberto Carrasquilla, Panama midfielder and part-time barber, heads into England test | OneFootball

Adalberto Carrasquilla, Panama’s all-action midfielder and occasional barber, is living his first World Cup, with England to come on Saturday at 23:00.

According to L'Équipe, the 27-year-old has been easing back after a left adductor injury suffered in the Mexican final against Cruz Azul in late May. Panama lost 0-1 to Ghana and 0-1 to Croatia, and he stayed on the bench in both.

He grew up in Concepcion, a working-class neighbourhood in Panama, and his father José, a retired policeman, says he has stayed loyal to his roots.

The family opened a tiny street-side salon, Carrabarbe, in 2019. Two long-time friends run it, charging five balboas for a cut, and he still takes clients when he is home, even on Christmas Day.

Carrasquilla taught himself barbering at 14 while breaking through at Tauro, Panama’s most decorated club with 17 titles. He carried scissors to training, cut team-mates’ fades and took unsuccessful trials at Roma, Benfica, Espanyol and Udinese.

A professional at 16 and a father young, he can hold, link or create, and former coaches call him the team’s engine. He honed his game with Cartagena in Spain, Houston Dynamo and now Pumas, having joined in January after interest from Sevilla. Panama were 34th in the FIFA ranking before the tournament, and his camp say he is ready to help.

Source: L'Équipe