Xavi Simons professional football phenom on Tottenham Hotspur English Premier League talks growing up famous, leaving Barcelona club, family pressure, mentally strong and heartbreak of missing the World Cup due to injury.

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This Friday, return to theaters for Avengers Endgame Encore.

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I know I said no more surprises, but I was really hoping to pull off one last one.

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Reassemble the team.

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Six zones, three teams, one shot.

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Relive the experience.

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They mess with time, time tends to mess back.

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The story continues.

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Tony, this is the second chance.

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Don't miss Marvel Studios Avengers Endgame Encore. The early beginning is Friday. Get tickets now. We're waiting for PG-13. And they be inappropriate for children under 13

Ryan Clark (0:30)

Xavi Simons was a prodigy. The blonde afro, advanced soccer skills and undeniable flair made him an instant internet sensation. But with that kind of early fame comes with Price. He's the son of a footballer who was never in his life, but he certainly is his mother's child. He's hardworking, he's disciplined, he's loyal, he's kind. He set goals for himself and so far, he's accomplished many of them, including playing in the World Cup. But 2026 was supposed to be the year he took that next step to become the man. And then just like that, poof, those dreams were dashed when he tore his ACL. We talked about the tough upbringing that his mother shielded him from. The idols who shaped him and eventually became his friends like Neymar, the brother he looks up to and the price of becoming famous so young. He also mentioned the pressure that comes with being Xavi Simons, the famous friends that he gets to hang around and eventually or sometimes miss their birthday parties. And the injury that ultimately changed his perspective on the game, his career and his life. Now he's rehabbing, leaning on his faith and continuing to work his way back. I truly enjoyed this conversation because Xavi is wise beyond his years. His experience may not be written across his face, but you could feel it in his heart. So Pivot family, please welcome Xavi Simons to the show.

Xavi, man, welcome to the show. This is Channing Crowder. This is Fred Taylor. I'm Ryan Clark. Pivot fam, thank you for pivoting with us. I went outside first, right, to learn how to pronounce your name, because I'm from New Orleans.

We got one accent, we speak one language. You speak like six. So I know your dialect works with everybody, mine doesn't. Right, so I needed to figure that out, man. Very grateful that you allowed us to come here, man. You allowed us in your space. We don't take that for granted here on The Pivot. I wanna talk about your first four days after your ACL.

What was that time like for you, knowing what you were supposed to be headed into, having an injury you were wishing wasn't that serious, and now finding out that your ACL is torn and that you were gonna miss FIFA?

Xavi Simons (3:07)

Yeah, the first four days was, I was crazy because this is the first time I got injured for a very long time.

So, knowing that as well, like I was three weeks away from the World Cup that hurt my whole body. The first feeling when that had the action happened, I'm on the ground and the first thing I'm thinking like, oh, the World Cup, you know?

And I knew, you know, we are all athletes, we know when something bad happens to you, you directly feel it. So, I felt it in an asset to myself, you know, Xavi, try it another time. Let's see, I didn't like accept it at the moment. So I stood up and they said to me, okay, jump twice. So when I jumped, I felt like my knee went out and come back. So that was the moment where I said to myself, it's done. And then, yeah.

Fred Taylor (4:01)

Yeah, I'm an knee expert on this show. I've had four ACL reconstructions, all in high school, before college, before playing professional. And you're going to come back, brother, because you're a way better athlete than me.

But the mental side of it is hard.

Xavi Simons (4:17)

Yeah, especially, I think, yeah, what I said, there was a walk up here. So I've been the whole season preparing myself for that moment. And just in one moment in time, it's gone.

Fred Taylor (4:29)

You're not playing, you're playing for, who are you playing for when you get injured?

Xavi Simons (4:33)

I was playing for Tottenham.

SPEAKER_2 (4:34)

Tottenham, the Hotspur?

Xavi Simons (4:36)

Yeah, Hotspur.

Fred Taylor (4:36)

But you're playing soccer.

SPEAKER_2 (4:38)

Yeah.

Fred Taylor (4:38)

You played at some of the top teams around the clubs. You know, I'm a football guy. Clubs around the world.