From honing his dead-ball skills in his parents' garden to being heralded as "one of the best ever" set-piece takers, James Ward-Prowse has come a long way.
The Southampton captain scored another magnificent free-kick - his 17th in the Premier League - at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to earn the Premier League's bottom club a priceless victory over Graham Potter's beleaguered Chelsea.
Ward-Prowse, 28, is now just one free-kick away from equalling former Manchester United and England midfielder David Beckham's overall top-flight tally of 18.
"It's an amazing feeling," Ward-Prowse told BBC Match of the Day afterwards.