Leonel Angel Coira, who goes by the name Leo, is being hailed as the soccer world's newest star player. The Spanish soccer powerhouse Real Madrid recently signed Leo to a one-year renewable contract. Only one small catch: Leo is just 7 years old. Though Leo has the support of his soccer-loving family — his father is a soccer coach, and his older brother plays for the Spanish team Real Valladolid — some question whether there should be a minimum age for junior soccer players. Leo will start training with Real Madrid's youth squad this fall. Is he too young to join a professional sports organization?
Yes. Leo is obviously far too young: "I am shocked that this happened," says Roberto Alvarez-Galloso at Bleacher Report. Though some young children thrive in the high-pressure world of competitive sports, "the majority may suffer burnout on an emotional scale." The overwhelming pressure can cause young athletes to turn to "performance-enhancing drugs, or simply give up on sports. Hopefully this problem can resolve itself for Leo's sake."
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