With a salary of nearly $550,000/month, Liverpool star Sadio Mane is impressed by his compassionate lifestyle rather than the amount of wealth that the player has.

For many people, replacing a phone with a broken screen is obvious. However, there are people who earn a lot of money to save money for charity rather than exchange a new phone for themselves. That is Sadio Mane, Liverpool’s football star, who receives a salary of 400,000 pounds a month, equivalent to nearly 550,000 USD.

In 2019, a photo of Mane entering the tunnel of Leicester City’s King Power Stadium went viral online when the star held a phone with a broken screen and still casually used it.

The story became a hot topic on social media when instead of buying luxury cars and enjoying a well-off life with a huge salary, Mane accepted to live a simple life and save in front of the cameras to save money to donate to poor people in his hometown: the nation of Senegal.

Poor boy in torn shoes

Sadio Mane was born in Bambali, a small village in the poor countryside of southern Senegal. Mane’s childhood story is similar to that of many other poor children here, overshadowed by months of poverty, destitution and no pleasures but football.

Although from a young age Mane’s family wanted his son to study well to have a warm life, even his parents tried to get him to become a worshipper in the mosque to have the opportunity to study, but Mane was not interested. The only thing this kid is passionate about is football.

Still, he obeyed his family and spent the rest of his time playing football and sleeping. From a young age, this poor country boy’s dream was to play football in the Premier League.

At the age of 7, Mane’s share died of a violent illness and his family was in even more difficulties. Telling himself that he had to do something to help his mother, Mane decided to choose the path of professional football as the exit.

However, this decision of his did not receive the consent of his family. So at the age of 15, Mane ran away from home to go to the capital, Dakar, 400km away, the only place where there was a chance for poor children to show their talent.

After borrowing some money to catch a car to the capital, Mane was pitted against 300 other boys at a football academy audition. From the beginning, the recruiters frowned at the crumpled clothes and torn shoes on poor boy Mane.

But despite that, Mane still scored 4 goals and became a full-time trainee.

At the same time, Mane’s family back home searched for their missing son and eventually discovered him in the capital, Dakar. They wanted to bring him back, but Mane refused to do so. He finally stayed and became the brightest student in the academy for the next 2 years.

In 2011, Mane was recruited by French club Metz and officially began his European adventure. After Metz, he went to Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), Southampton (England) and then Liverpool (England).

In the 2018-2019 season, Mane was awarded the Premier League Golden Boot, achieving exactly what he dreamed of as a child. In the 2019-2020 season, Mane’s Liverpool side held up the Premier League title after a 30-year wait.

With a fast, powerful style of play, every time he enters the pitch always burns out, Mane is not only one of the best players in the Premier League but also of the whole world.

Superstar hates Ferrari

Football stars after succeeding in their careers are often tempted by a lavish, hedonistic lifestyle. There are only a few players like Mane who know how to keep their mind when rushing into the gym or learning English to continuously improve themselves.

“Why should I have 10 Ferraris, 20 diamond-encrusted watches or several airplanes? It doesn’t make me happier. I was ignorant, lacking enough, had to work in the fields and play football barefoot. Today, with those legs, I had everything. But I don’t need luxury cars, big houses, and other flashy items. Now is the time to help people. I like to share my good life with my compatriots who are still struggling,” Mane said.

Instead of enjoying a high income, Mane has spent money building schools, hospitals, stadiums or participating in campaigns to donate clothes and food to the poor in Senegal. He even provided for many disadvantaged people in his homeland.

In Liverpool, he appeared in front of the camera with an idyllic appearance but in Senegal, many considered Mane a living saint when remembering his homeland when he was established.

In everyday life, Mane is said to be willing to help people when someone witnesses him helping a father and son cleaner clean a toilet after the game.

Obviously, a person succeeds not only because of how much money they make, but also how they spend that money. Material wealth can be earned and lost at any time, but a compassionate soul is not easy to acquire.