Excellence comes in different shapes and sizes. That Leonel Messi — the Argentinian football star — has been named as the 2022 Best Fifa men’s player should be an inspiration to Kenyan youth.

For generations, young people have been taught that they can only prosper through book knowledge, which is expected to lead to employment. This, however, is an idea that has been overtaken by time, especially given the disruptions that technology has wrought on many sectors that used to create traditional jobs.

Now, more than ever before, there is a need for new thinking about the future of work.

Part of the beauty of the Competency-Based Curriculum is that it encourages young people to identify early what they are good at. That way, they can start leveraging their strengths while still in their youth, in turn placing them at a vantage point when it is time to choose their career paths.

Sport is one of the avenues that have proved to be lucrative for both players and their employers — in this case, clubs. What is more, there are opportunities for organisations to support talented youth to pursue formal education even as they hone their sports talents.

Already, Kenyan organisations like Equity Bank have embarked on this journey, albeit tentatively, by showing young people the link between effort (being good at football) and reward (getting paid for exemplary performance). This is an example that other local corporates can borrow from, given that sports personalities can also make very good brand ambassadors on and off the pitch.

It is not by accident that Messi has won the Fifa award for the seventh time. He exemplifies the spirit of team work, a passion for his craft and a commitment to excellence that are hard to match.

Indeed, he is a model of what a person driven by passion can achieve. This is a value the Kenyan society should feel challenged to inculcate in children from early years so that they can believe in the beauty of their dreams and, by extension, give them the energy and staying power they need.

And, in as much as Messi is a global icon, there is also a need for Africa as a continent to celebrate its best from time to time so that such gestures can inspire future generations. That way, they can inspire African children to entertain lofty beliefs in their potential to conquer the world through their talents, not just football or sports.