Born Kicking: Ruby Hupe

The Little Kicks Academy returns after its summer break with 11-year-old Ruby Hupe from Harpenden, who has recently joined the under-12 set-up at Arsenal. She would most like to meet Lionel Messi, her favourite player ever, and would pick Lauren James as a teammate on the grounds that she is the best female player in the world. Red is the only shirt colour she would consider, her heroes are Chloe Kelly and Mary Earps, and she backs Arsenal for the title. She describes herself as tough, skilful and kind, always puts her right boot on first, and rates a smoothie as the ideal post-match treat. Her funniest football moment involved dribbling round the goalkeeper and then getting on her hands and knees to head the ball in. Her dad, who kicked balls at her when she was little, got her started.