Growing up, Nico Williams had a different path in mind, one that could have led him astray. “When I was younger, I used to smoke and spend time with gangs,” he recalls. But there was always someone who refused to give up on him—his older brother, Iñaki Williams.

“My brother is the reason I’m playing football today,” Nico shares. Iñaki would show up at those street corners, chase the bad influences away, and even resort to physical confrontations to keep Nico on track. “Sometimes, he would hit me, and I’d run crying to our mum. But to my surprise, she always supported him.”

That tough love made all the difference. Iñaki wasn’t just a brother; he was a protector, a mentor, and a father figure in Nico’s life. “Today, I listen to him even more than I listen to my mum because he’s been guiding me since birth. He’s like my father,” Nico laughs.

Thanks to his brother’s relentless guidance, Nico turned his life around, finding purpose in football and a platform to shine. His story is a testament to the power of family and the life-changing influence of tough love.