Marcus Rashford backed his talent and insatiable passion for football as a young middle-class lad growing up in South Manchester. He worked hard to maximise his limited opportunities so he could realise one goal: to pursue football at the highest level. Soon enough, he was drafted into the national football team. Rashford was living his dream.

But on the night of July 12, in London’s packed Wembley Stadium, playing in his most important match till then, that script went horribly wrong. He missed a penalty in the final of Euro 2020 against Italy. England lost. A nation went into mourning. Rashford became the target of racial abuse on social media, along with two of his black teammates who had also missed their penalties in that ill-fated encounter. Overnight, fans rallied around these champions. Handwritten notes and messages of support poured in, ranging from schoolchildren to grandmothers. Soon, he made a powerful comeback with a post: ‘I’m Marcus Rashford, 23, Black.’