“Football is about joy. It’s about dribbling. I favour every idea that makes the game beautiful. Every good idea has to last.” Read these words by Ronaldinho, perhaps the purest embodiment of football seen through an artistic lens, and you are immediately brought back to the origin of it all.

To the taste of a street match under the setting sun, to the urge to invent simply for the pleasure of doing so: to the sense of wonder released by a single trick, a single flash of inspiration, by that simple and inimitable lightness that the Beautiful Game is capable of conveying at every latitude of the globe, at least in its most majestic form.

It’s a matter of ideas, as ‘Dinho used to say. Today, those ideas take shape in the footballing language of Radheya Ickrath. For this Englishman of Italian descent, football is a matter of moments: fleeting notes that are nonetheless deeply meaningful in their ability to spark shared emotions.

With him, we spoke about the ball as a natural extension of both body and thought, but also about a journey that began on the streets and has now reached the heights of global football communication.

How did football first enter your life? What did it mean to you when you were a kid?

“I started kicking a ball as soon as I could walk. I joined my first football team when I was seven, and from seven to nineteen I was constantly playing for different teams. As YouTube began to grow, I started watching players like Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, following the whole Joga Bonito vibe. I would go out into my garden and practise their skills, trying to play like them from a very young age. That’s really how I fell in love with football. Later on, I actually played at a professional level in Asia. That period coincided with the time when I was watching more and more YouTubers. Eventually, I realised I wanted to express myself more on the pitch. But you know what coaches are like: the focus is always on winning. Meanwhile, I was thinking, I just want to make people smile with these skills. That’s when I started filming videos.”

Do you see art in your gestures, your movements, your skills? In a sense, does it feel like a form of performance art?

“Definitely. For me it’s like dancing with the ball. The skills I use aren’t just ordinary tricks: they’re combinations designed either to create emotion or to beat a defender in the most visually pleasing way possible. At the same time, they need to look good on camera, because I’m also an entertainer. That’s where the crossover between art and football really happens.”

Your art unfolds in front of an audience and in real time. How do you deal with that pressure during your performances?

“There are different types of performances. Sometimes I’ll perform in a circle and play one-versus-one against someone. There are moments when I won’t nutmeg them: they might even score or win. But the key thing is the overall show. Of course skill matters, but what really counts is how you present yourself in front of a crowd. When I play matches, I often do it for content. That means I’ll attempt some of the most outrageous things on the pitch. I almost try to convince myself it isn’t real life, even though people are watching and I’m playing against opponents. Sometimes people comment, ‘How can you try these things in actual games?’ But honestly, I don’t worry about it. I just go for it.”

Where do you find inspiration for your skills? Do ideas come to you spontaneously? Do they come from watching football, or from other performers around the world?

“A lot of my inspiration comes from street-football icons. At the same time, as I’ve already mentioned, I’ve studied players like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and, of course, Neymar. Because I come from a traditional football background, I try to combine both worlds. Then it all comes down to repetition: practising the same movements again and again. Eventually, when you play, it becomes second nature. In fact, the more you think while playing football, the worse you perform. When you stop thinking and simply rely on the repetitions you’ve trained into your body, everything happens naturally.”

After so many years of such a deep relationship with the ball, what does that object represent to you now?

“It genuinely feels like a part of me. When I play, it feels completely natural and comfortable. I feel connected to it now.”

You seem to exist somewhere between performer and director: someone who not only creates tricks but also shapes the visual narrative. How important is that creative control for you?

“It’s very important. I remember being on a shoot with a major brand: they brought the entire production team, but because we had grown from zero followers to over a billion views and more than four million followers, they trusted our creative process. They basically said, ‘Show us how you want to do it.’ In a way, that means I also act as a choreographer. If a brand like Adidas or Nike asked me to create a viral advert, I would know how to approach it. Looking ahead, I’d also love to explore other directions: perhaps choreography, or even acting.”

So football has opened many doors in your life, not just athletically, but creatively.

“Absolutely. The opportunities that come your way, and the people you end up connecting with, are incredible. And it all started with doing skills with a football. It really does open so many doors.”

Football has also taken you around the world, exposing you to many different cultures. What has that journey meant to you?

“Football has literally taken me from one side of the world to the other. Recently I was in India playing in front of around fifty thousand people in a stadium. Messi even came to meet us afterwards, and I think a few million people were watching the stream online. At the same time, I’ve been able to explore completely different realities: from visiting slums to experiencing luxury places like the Maldives. It’s crazy when you think about it. From simply filming videos, I’ve had all these incredible experiences, including playing for England in the Kings League.”

When you see young people reacting to what you do, especially kids, what kind of emotions does that give you?

“It’s really rewarding. My long-term goal is not just to make entertaining content, but to inspire people to become better at whatever they do. I want to show that if you stay consistent with something, you will improve. I also post a lot about training and the gym, and sometimes kids ask me how to start. Ultimately, I want people to become better versions of themselves while I try to become a better version of myself as well. And I want to keep the spirit of football alive. These days the Beautiful Game has lost some of its flair. Wingers and attackers often aren’t encouraged to express themselves like they used to. That’s why players who still have flair stand out so much.”

Building on that, modern football often feels more system-driven than expressive: what’s your view on that shift?

“It’s effective, but I think it has some drawbacks. One risk is that attacking play becomes predictable. When you have players like Neymar, Ronaldinho, or someone like Lamine Yamal today, they can change a game instantly. They can beat four or five players, deliver a cross, or score themselves. If players aren’t encouraged to take those risks, football can become boring for viewers. You also lose a major weapon in attack: that one player who can suddenly change the course of a game.”

Do you have a favourite player or club?

“My all-time favourite player is Ronaldinho. He always played with a smile on his face. Football is a serious sport, but he made it joyful. It should be serious, but not too serious, and he embodied that balance perfectly. As for clubs, it’s a bit controversial: I love Juventus because I’m half Italian. Growing up I admired players like Del Piero and Pirlo. But I also have a soft spot for Real Madrid.”

You’ve also collaborated with major clubs and met legendary players. What has that experience been like?

“It’s been amazing. A lot of cool things have happened, but collaborating with Juventus was probably one of my favourite moments so far. Juventus is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and because of my Italian background it meant a lot to me. It was a special milestone.”

You’ve experienced a lot of growth and visibility online. Fame can be a complicated thing. How do you deal with that?

“Honestly, I try not to let it affect me. I was talking about this with a friend recently: we both think it’s important to stay humble, because life can change at any moment. Personally, I believe everyone is equal. Whether someone works on the street or is at the top, everyone deserves the same respect. Sometimes people come up and say, ‘Can I take a picture? I can’t believe I’ve met you.’ But I just talk to them like they’re friends. I try to encourage them or give advice if they ask for it. I don’t see it as fame: I simply see it as an opportunity to have a positive impact.”

Having travelled so widely, have you noticed differences in how football is experienced in different cultures: for instance in Mexico, Indonesia or the Philippines?

“Whenever I start doing skills in the street, people are usually really happy about it. In the Philippines, for example, basketball is the dominant sport. But when I played football with kids there, they loved it. Many people even commented online thanking me for bringing football to their country. In places like Italy or Mexico, football is everywhere: it’s deeply ingrained in the culture. You can walk past a park and people will immediately invite you to play. But when you introduce football in places where it’s less common, the reaction can be even more special.”

Looking ahead, what dreams do you still hope to achieve through football or through your art?

“I want to keep inspiring younger generations to follow their dreams. My dream was always to work with football. I started filming in alleyways, and now I’m filming on some of the biggest stages in the world. That shows what’s possible if you stay consistent. Beyond that, I don’t really see limits. Football will always be the core of what I do, but I’d also like to branch out: into film, and into becoming a broader creative personality.”