As Adebayo Akinfenwa blows out the candles on his 40th birthday cake he can sit and take stock of a hugely eventful playing career.
But he will be glancing at the past, not staring. That is because there is one last game to prepare for. One 'Last Dance' as the man himself describes it.
At the start of this season the Wycombe Wanderers' talisman announced he would be embarking on a farewell season. And after a drama-filled campaign, it could yet have a happy ending for Akinfenwa and his teammates at Wembley later this month. They will meet Sunderland in the League One play-off final on Saturday, May 21 for a place in the Championship.
For the Chairboys, it is a second showpiece final in three seasons. Their last visit saw them overcome Oxford to clinch a spot in the second tier for the first time ever.
But the fact it was played out in an empty stadium meant it was always tinged with regret. This time around, the national stadium will surely be packed out with Wycombe fans making up for lost time and Sunderland supporters guaranteed to sell out their allocation.
You sense it is just the backdrop Akinfenwa dreamed about when he confirmed his decision to hang up his boots. Victory in his swansong would be the perfect ending for his story but also a continuation of Wycombe's amazing rise. Akinfenwa says a big part of the club's success is down to their dressing room being full of characters - "This club allows you, unapologetically, to be yourself."
Akinfenwa himself is certainly a character.
Recent years have seen him branch out in terms of media appearances with his vibrant personality a hit with viewers and fans, whilst his social media following dwarfs that of many Premier League players.
He has also worked his charm offensive on some of the world's best coaches. A self-confessed Liverpool fan, Akinfenwa was evidently delighted at getting a congratulatory video call from Reds' boss Jurgen Klopp after that play-off final win in 2020.
A video of the chat went viral, with Klopp telling Akinfenwa: "Hello big man. Congratulations. I watched the game but I didn't see the post-match interviews but Hendo and the boys told me to get in contact with you on WhatsApp so here we go.
"Congratulations! I'm pretty sure your whole life you wanted to be at least a Championship player and now, finally, you are there. Well done. Great, great victory. Even in these strange times I hope you celebrate appropriately."
Akinfenwa later said: “Somebody like Klopp at that time, Liverpool had won the league, he didn’t have to take out the time to send me a message, he sent me a message and for me that’s just what football’s about. I was gassed!"
Further praise came from Man City chief Pep Guardiola who called Akinfenwa “a legend of English football, absolute legend” following the sides' Carabao Cup meeting earlier this season.
Away from football the self-proclaimed 'Beast ' has also many plates spinning, including his 'Beast Mode On’ clothing range whilst his autobiography ‘The Beast: My Story’ proved a big hit when it was released in 2017.
We know that his playing days will be over following the Wembley final, but as for what is next he has remained coy on specifics.
However, he did previously drop a hint on a potential move to a different career move. He said last year: “We’re talking to a couple of producers in LA, there’s a couple of movie projects. Then also, there are also talks with WWE. I reckon I’d be a good wrestler.”
For the time being, all of that can now wait as Akinfenwa plots a fairytale ending to his story at the home of football. "It's beautiful. I'm going to be 40 at Wembley," he said after Wycombe saw off MK Dons at the semi-final stage.
"It started at Hackney Marshes and my last game is going to be at Wembley!"
