Tristan Alif Naufal, 7, Rises From Liverpool’s Academy in Indonesia to YouTube Stardom (Video)

by

Apr 10, 2012

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's take a deep breath and remember something very important. Tristan Alif Naufal is only 7 years old. Now we can let our imaginations roam for a bit. The boy can play soccer … well.

The Jakarta, Indonesia, native has been training with Liverpool's Academy in Indonesia since July 2011. His parents, Ivan and Irma Trianto, are both passionate LFC fans who decided their son should learn to play the game the Liverpool way.

Naufal has become somewhat of a celebrity in his homeland. Highlights of him playing soccer have been viewed more than 300,000 times, and some parts of the Indonesian media have dubbed him "the New Messi."

But his parents and Paul Barratt, senior academy coach at LFC IFASS Indonesia, are handling the child with care. They are allowing him to enjoy playing the game, and making sure he approaches it with the right mindset.

"Tristan is a great kid," Barratt told LiverpoolFC.tv. "His attitude is brilliant. He always listens to the coaches and tries his very best at all times. However, we need to remember that Tristan is only 7 years old.

"Now, he needs to learn how to fit into a team. We're committed to continuing to support Tristan and helping him achieve his potential in the hope that he can one day make it as a professional footballer."

Watch Naufal show off his skills in the video below. 

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer's Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

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