Mikey Poulli’s journey is one of perseverance, talent and quiet determination. The 15-year-old from London, who has roots in Cyprus, refuses to be defined by the blindness he developed at the age of eight.
Today, he plays football at an elite level, dances traditional Greek folk dances, and has become a social media sensation hailed by fans as a “phenomenon.”
We spoke to Mikey about his family heritage, the challenges he’s overcome, and the dreams that drive him forward.
Born in 2010 in London to a Greek Cypriot father from Ayia Marina Skylloura and a French mother, Mikey was raised in a household where football was a daily ritual. A devoted Arsenal fan – and a supporter of Omonia too – he spent his childhood kicking a ball at every opportunity, whether in the garden, at school, or with his local team.
“My dad used to play a lot of football with me and I really loved playing at home with my dad and brother, at school and at Omonia. My dad would also take me to Arsenal games a lot which I loved, and still do to this day,” he says.
A sudden diagnosis
His life changed dramatically at the age of seven, following what began as a routine eye test. Doctors diagnosed him with rod-cone dystrophy, a rare, incurable degenerative condition that leads to progressive vision loss. In Mikey’s case, that deterioration happened alarmingly fast: within just 18 months, he had lost his sight entirely.
“I was fully sighted up to about 7 years old, and by 8 years old, I was fully blind. The doctors have told me it’s a condition called Cone-Rod Dystrophy, and at the time, they didn’t know that it would make me go blind so quickly. They said it could be stable, and if it isn’t, it could take decades to deteriorate. They were shocked when I lost all my vision so quickly from being fully sighted.”
Refusing to give up the game
The loss of his sight was devastating — not least because it threatened to rob him of the game he loved most. But Mikey never let go of football. His parents enrolled him in the Tottenham Hotspur Centre of Excellence, a training programme for visually impaired players. It quickly became clear he was more than just a promising talent.
He impressed coaches from the outset, and soon caught the attention of the Football Association. Within weeks, he was approved for individual, specialised training as part of the England blind football development pathway, with long-term aspirations to represent the national team internationally.
“It was really good as it was a place that would allow me to continue playing football although I had lost my vision. I just wanted to play football.”
He adds: “I just wanted to play football, and kept playing and improving my touch and control, listening out for the ball and my surroundings until I got better and better. It’s hard to explain, but I did everything I could to continue because I loved it so much.”
Today, Mikey trains weekly with England’s blind football squad and continues to grow in both skill and confidence.
A gift from Lionel Messi
In 2020, Mikey’s story reached global superstar Lionel Messi, who partnered with OrCam Technologies to support blind and visually impaired individuals. As part of the initiative, Messi personally selected Mikey to receive an OrCam device — wearable AI-driven assistive technology that helps users identify text and objects through audio feedback.
“Messi gifted me the Orcam, I was 1 of 11 people in the world, and the only one from the UK. It helps me with audio describing text and my surroundings.”
Music, dancing and heritage
Football isn’t Mikey’s only passion. He’s an avid music lover and has a deep appreciation for traditional Greek and Cypriot dance. One recent video of him performing a zeibekiko — his favourite — went viral online.
He currently takes lessons at a Greek dance school in London and never misses a chance to join in at family celebrations.
“Apart from football I really enjoy listening to Greek and English music, and attending Greek dancing. Before I lost my vision I would dance a lot at Greek school and I always enjoyed it. Like football, I refused to give up on something I loved.”
When asked about his connection to Cyprus, Mikey’s enthusiasm shows: “I go to Cyprus every year. I love going there and spending time with family and friends and eating Greek food, going to the beach. I’m always happy there.”
Role models and ambition
While he’s deeply grateful to Messi, Mikey admits that Cristiano Ronaldo is his biggest sporting inspiration.
“Ronaldo is my biggest role model because of the types of goals he scores, and how he looks after his body. I go gym a lot now so I can also look after myself like he does.”
Looking ahead, Mikey’s goals are no less ambitious than those of his heroes.
“Before I lost my vision I always wanted to play for Arsenal because of my passion for football. Winning the World Cup for England would be a dream come true and show people that if you have a dream then you should never give up.”
When asked whether he ever considered giving up, his answer is immediate and resolute:
“No, I never considered giving up football. I’ve always believed in if you have a passion and a dream, then you should never give up and keep going. Nothing is impossible. This is how I always approach everything in life.”
As his parents note, Mikey’s strength of character is as powerful as his sporting ability:
“His determination, perseverance and resilience blows us away – showing the world that a disability does not define you but makes you stronger. He doesn’t believe anything is impossible and never gives up. He is a phenomenon and an inspiration.”
