Father Jesé

He wasn't wearing a red cloak or a Santa hat, and he didn't go there on a sledge. He was wearing a T-shirt and Bermuda shorts and a cap on his head, as in the Canary Islands, even in winter, snow is just something to dream about. The one thing he did have, though, was a sack full of presents. Jese Rodriguez was acting as Father Christmas in a Las Palmas children's ward. The Real Madrid star went along to bring a little joy to the sick children in the Gran Canaria hospital, and they welcomed the local-born player - a big name on his home island - with smiles.

Jesé distributed radio-controlled cars, Star Wars dolls, footballs, shirts and signed postcards to the children, for whom he was something more than just another Real Madrid player. "Why don't you get to play more?" asked one of the bolder kids, aware that the Real Madrid reserve player is not really playing the number of minutes he would like. Following his visit to the hospital, Jesé posted a few pictures on social media, saying, "I am grateful that these little fighters have infected me with their smiles and their happiness".

The Real Madrid number 20 still holds very dear to his heart the island where he was born and brought up, even though, in fact, he did a lot of his growing up at the Real Madrid Valdebebas training ground. In spite of leaving his family and home at the age of 14, he has kept up his close links to the island, both with his family and his friends.