Marcus Rashford established himself as a national treasure a year ago this week with an open letter to Boris Johnson.
But despite helping the Government run the country and having chats with Barack Obama, the England striker has absolutely no ambition to one day become Prime Minister.
Instead, Rashford is proud that the last year has shown, with his campaign for free school meals and to end child poverty that footballers have more to them than just kicking a ball around.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling got MBEs last weekend to recognise the work they do while Rashford has set an example for others to follow.
“That's the main reason I started doing what I've been doing,” said Rashford. “I wanted to help children and show them that there's different ways to go about things to help each other.
“I wanted to show that if you help the young ones and they grow up with this type of mentality and commitment towards something that's how you make sustainable change. Otherwise you may be able to change something for two or three years but it just won't last.
“I wanted to start speaking to the younger kids and just connecting with them, and I've managed to do that. That example that you said is brilliant for me to hear because it's the reason I wanted to start doing it. Looking forward I hope it continues.
“The issue we’re trying to tackle is so big and it’s so difficult to tackle it on your own so I had to make more people aware about it, get more people on board with helping, and just take it step by step day by day because it changes every day.”
Rashford is already an MBE but is surely destined to be knighted one day but laughed off the idea that one day he could be running the country himself. Can he rule it out?
“Yeah, I probably can because it's not something I grew up wanting to do,” said Rashford.
“My mind's not on that really but it was great speaking to him (Obama) and I've enjoyed speaking to people like that, learning from them and taking what I can from the stories that they tell me. It's something I will always remember.”
Rashford has had a sensational year both on and off the pitch but it is taking its toll on his football because he goes into the Euros nursing shoulder and ankle injuries which will have to be managed.
But he was also revealing in just why he has become a leader and inspiration for a whole generation. “People always, especially my brother, said to me - because I always used to play at the front of the pitch its important to lead from the front, by example,” he said.
“I just try to do things in the right way, that’s it basically. It's quite simple in my head because I’ve been doing that my whole life. So not much has changed in that regard.”
Rashford was the big call for Gareth Southgate to leave out of the starting line-up, but there were no complaints and he came on at the end of the game, even taking over the armband and the Manchester United striker insists he is fit to play a big part.
He added: “I understand my body well and it has been a while for me playing without the things that hold you back in some way.
“But it is the last push for this season and then we get some time off, so I am just go concentrating on giving everything I can while I am here for the team.”
