Unearthing Raphael Lea'i, first player from Solomon Islands to sign a pro contract in Europe

The youngster has emerged from difficult situations to pursue a career on the top level

If one asks a budding footballer what is their ultimate dream in club-level football, most would mention playing in Europe. The dream of playing in Europe comes true for many, but not for all. Many young and talented players often lose the opportunity of playing the game at the highest level due to the lack of football infrastructure in the country. 

While this stops many from pursuing the game, footballers like Raphael Lea'i beat the odds to succeed. Throughout his young career, Lea'i has emerged from difficult situations to pursue a career that will make him face some of the toughest challenges he has faced. However, considering the player's talent, it is safe to say Lea'i has the potential to succeed. 

Who is Raphael Lea'i? 

A young and pacy center forward, Raphael Lea'i is a footballer from the Solomon Islands. Aged 19, the talented teenager is breaking all odds as he secured a contract with Velež Mostar, a club based in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In doing so, Lea'i became the first player from the Solomon Islands(ranked 136 in the FIFA rankings) to secure a contract with a European club. 

However, this success Lea'i achieved didn't come to him overnight. After a solid youth career at different clubs in the Solomon Islands, Lea'i made a name for himself by playing Futsal and during his stint in the 2018 OFC U-16 Football Championship. In the latter, Lea'i was the best player for the Solomon Islands, as he netted seven goals in the tournament that saw his team compete in the finals. However, they eventually lost on penalties to New Zealand. 

Raphael Lea'i's performance for Club and Country: 

Currently playing in Europe for Velež Mostar, Raphael Lea'i is yet to get the game time he needs. However, the lack of game time does not mean anything about his talent. It's just a process most players go through when settling at a new club in a new country. Having made only one appearance as a substitute for Velež Mostar in the ongoing season, Lea'i showed promise and proved why he deserved to play in Europe. 

Even before his stint in Europe, Lea'i did well on Solomon Island. Appearing thrice for the senior team of Henderson Eels, the 19-year-old scored two goals and assisted two. Despite being very young in his professional career, Lea'i has shown immense promise. 

The strengths of Raphael Lea'i:

Holding the ability to operate on either wing and even as an attacking midfielder, Raphael Lea'i prefers to play as a Center Forward. His fondness for leading the attack comes from his goal-scoring abilities. A calm and composed striker, Raphael Lea'i can score a goal whenever his team is in a difficult situation. This ability makes the 19-year-old a talented poacher. 

Along with his goal-scoring talent, the other three attributes of Raphael Lea'i are his finishing, speed, and dribbling. Whether it is a 1v1 situation or you need him to score a magnificent goal from outside the box, the teenager's accurate shooting allows him to fulfill either. Even about his dribbling, Lea'i has superb control over the ball mixed with trickery, which can be credited to his futsal career. 

Overall, Raphael Lea'i is one talented player who has the potential to be a success story by playing in Europe. While Lea'i still needs to work on his game, one can trust him, as he knows what it takes to beat the odds. Do you see Raphael Lea'i playing for a major club in Europe in the future? Let us know in the comments below.