The power of potreros

Emiliano Migueles starts his days early, delivering water. But his true grind begins when he clocks out and hits the scrappy soccer pitches that dot the suburbs of Buenos Aires, pouring his energy into amateur soccer to earn extra cash.

For three-time World Cup champions Argentina, the sport is a feverish passion that permeates every home and every makeshift dirt field, known as a potrero, where youngsters play, dreaming of reaching the top leagues.

Argentine legend Diego Maradona famously honed his skills at a potrero in Villa Fiorito on the outskirts of the capital.

Many matches at these potreros offer players the chance to win some cash. The amounts are tiny compared to the wages of their compatriots who play in the glittering European leagues and will soon seek to defend their 2022 World Cup win. But potrero players can sometimes earn enough to help pay the bills.

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