“No one teaches you how to be famous.”Xavi Simons From being a young football sensation in the spotlight to navigating family, fame, setbacks and the weight of expectations, Xavi Simons joins The Pivot for an honest conversation about the journey behind the player. Xavi opens up about growing up with the world watching, finding his identity beyond the hype, and the family and people who helped shape him along the way. Sharing how his father was not present and being the namesake of a professional footballer came with pressure and expectations. He takes us inside the difficult decision to leave Barcelona’s academy at just 16, walking away from the club where he grew up and beginning a new chapter that would ultimately shape his career. He also reflects on the pride and pressure of representing the Netherlands on the world stage — and the heartbreak of watching the 2026 World Cup from home after an ACL injury ended his season and took away the opportunity he had worked toward. Now facing the next chapter of his career, Xavi talks about his recovery, his future in soccer, the lessons he's learned through adversity, and what it means to carry the expectations that have followed his name since he was a kid. Fame came early. The setbacks came too. Now Xavi Simons is writing the next chapter of his story. Full Episode streaming now on Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related