Italian football icon Mario Balotelli was a notable presence in New York City, participating in the ceremonial first pitch for the Mets baseball team’s game against the Cubs at Citi Field.
Currently playing for Al-Ittihad in the UAE, the striker was the honored guest and tasked with throwing the first pitch before the match between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs.
Throughout his distinguished career, Balotelli has played for renowned clubs such as Inter, Liverpool, Manchester City, Milan, Olympique Marseille, and Adana Demirspor. His most recent stint in Serie A with Genoa concluded after a disagreement with coach Patrick Vieira.
Balotelli represented Italy 36 times, scoring 14 goals. His last appearance for the Azzurri was on September 7, 2018, in a Nations League match against Poland. He is set to turn 36 in August and was accompanied by his brother, Enock Barwuah, who also had a brief footballing career.