Theo: Growing Up Fast

The amazing story of meteoric rise to fame of one of England's most exciting young footballers—in his own words

For the first time, Theo Walcott takes fans right inside his world. When the name of Theo Walcott was included in the England squad for the 2006 World Cup, shock waves ran through the football world—but no one was more surprised than Theo himself. Five years later, Theo Walcott is one of the most recognizable names in football. As the English heart of the brilliant young Arsenal team, he has become a firm favorite at the Emirates Stadium. He represents everything that is good about the beautiful game: a player with his feet on the ground, but lightning quick on the field. He carries the expectations of the nation on his shoulders, especially since one night in Croatia made him the youngest player in history to score a hat-trick for England. It has been an incredible adventure, an unbelievable story for a quiet boy from a small village who only started playing football when he was 10. But how does it feel for your dreams to come true?

Theo Walcott is approaching 200 appearances for Arsenal, and in September 2008 became the youngest player to score a hat trick for England.