Source: Sports Illustrated

Mario Balotelli is this week's Sports Illustrated star. The soccer star makes it to the prestigious Sports magazine's cover, making him the third non-American soccer player to grace the magazine's cover, aside from International icons Pele and Maradonna. In addition, tongues would wag when people see the cover photo as well. The photo is shot by Jeffrey A. Salter, a resident photographer for SI. In the cover, you can see Mario Balotelli walking on water. What more could spell power and grace than these?

Inside Sports illustrated, fans would get a treat from Grant Wahl's cover story on Balotelli. Fans would be treated to the AC Milan Striker's responses to the many wild rumours being spread about him. Balotelli had headlined sports news a number of times, and usually these are not for the most positive things. However, inside this issue, Balotelli would deny about showboating, getting benched and getting muzzled by his teammates. Balotelli has also become involved in a controversial photo, where he was portrayed as King Kong, triggering debates on racism and discrimination.

Balotelli had addressed this issue and claimed that while he had a pleasant childhood, racism was felt multiple times while he was growing up. "You can't delete racism," Balotelli shared to Wahl. "It's like a cigarette. You can't stop smoking if you don't want to, and you can't stop racism if people don't want to. But I'll do everything I can to help."

If you are a big fan of the soccer player, then this week's SI issue is a real treat. It showcased the player in different colourful lights, and you get to enjoy him and all his glorious self treading water. He himself recognise how rare and valuable it is to be in the cover of the SI issue as a foreign athlete.