Raheem Sterling: How speaking out on racism has helped make him a role model

“In six years we’ll be talking about him making his 100th England cap,” said Rory Smith, chief football writer at the New York Times.

“And in eight years we’ll be talking about him as a leader of a generation. For players like Callum Hudson-Odoi he’s a standard bearer. He will go down as one of the most important England players of the early 21st century.”

And such is Sterling’s influence and profile, he is already being compared with Muhammad Ali.

“I would liken Sterling to Muhammad Ali,” said Mitch, host of England’s YouTube channel.

“[When Ali was first fighting] he wasn’t looked at as a legend, he was looked as an unruly individual from the Nation of Islam.

“No-one gave him props for standing up for what he believed in, and Sterling is going through he same stuff now. He’s changing people’s minds, he’s being brave, and we can see how it’s working out for him.

“We need characters like that because it takes them to another level outside sport and cements your legacy within humanity. And if he keeps going, he’ll go down as a legend.”

Sterling’s working-class immigrant background, allied to his growing profile and readiness to speak out about racist abuse, is making him a role model, Mitch believes.

“He symbolises the dream that you can be from a different country, grow up in the UK and rise to the highest level of football and perform consistently at the pinnacle of the game,” said Mitch.

“He’s a living example of someone who’s still playing who is trying to make history by winning a domestic treble with City and trying to win trophies with England.

“Any creed or colour can look at him as a inspiration. And that’s the highest act a human can perform: inspire. He’s one of the top role models we have right now – not only in sport but in popular culture.”