23 Facts About Mario Balotelli

1. On 28 September 2017, Mario Balotelli fathered a second child, a son named Lion, born to an unidentified woman.

2. In March 2013, Mario Balotelli became engaged to wed his Belgian girlfriend, Fanny Neguesha.

3. In response, Mario Balotelli threatened to take legal action against Fico to defend his reputation against what he considered false accusations.

4. In 2012, Mario Balotelli featured in GQ, where he was named the second-best dressed man in the world behind British musician Tinie Tempah.

5. In December 2012, Mario Balotelli was due to take Manchester City to a Premier League tribunal to protest against a fine of two weeks' wages over his poor disciplinary record, but eventually dropped his application a day before the hearing.

6. In December 2011, Mario Balotelli broke a 48-hour curfew before Manchester City's match against Chelsea to go to a curry house, although he "was not drinking alcohol, signed autographs, posed for pictures with fellow diners and was involved in a mock sword-fight using rolling pins".

7. On 28 May, Mario Balotelli made his first appearance for the national team since the 2014 World Cup, starting in the match against Saudi Arabia and scoring the opener in the 20th minute.

8. On 19 May 2018, Mario Balotelli was called-up for the first time since November 2014 by newly appointed manager Roberto Mancini for Italy's May and June 2018 friendlies.

9. On 1 June 2014, Mario Balotelli was selected in Italy's squad for the 2014 World Cup.

10. Prior to the semi-final, Mario Balotelli suffered a thigh injury that prevented him from playing in the remainder of the tournament.

11. On 10 September 2013, Mario Balotelli scored the winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against the Czech Republic in Turin which allowed Italy to clinch the first place spot in their qualifying group and ultimately achieve their objective of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

12. On 21 March 2013, Mario Balotelli scored a long-range equaliser in a friendly match against Brazil at the Stade de Geneve.

13. On 13 August 2008, Mario Balotelli was finally issued Italian citizenship.

14. On 20 August 2018, Mario Balotelli re-signed with Nice on a third consecutive one-year contract after a move to rivals Marseille fell through earlier in the summer.

15. On 25 June 2017, Mario Balotelli signed a one-year contract extension with Nice.

16. On 18 December 2014, Mario Balotelli was suspended for one match and fined £25,000 for posting an image on social media which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.

17. In the match against Palermo, Mario Balotelli continued his impressive scoring streak with two more goals, one from a penalty and another from an M'Baye Niang cross.

18. In his fifth appearance, Mario Balotelli appeared as a substitute against Genoa and scored his fifth goal for his new club.

19. In the next two matches, Mario Balotelli scored two goals, including 30 yards free-kick against Parma.

20. In December 2012, Mario Balotelli decided to fight against Manchester City's decision to fine him two weeks' wages for his poor disciplinary record the previous season by taking his club to a Premier League tribunal.

21. On 22 January 2012, Mario Balotelli came on as a substitute during a match against Tottenham Hotspur.

22. On 21 December 2010, Mario Balotelli won the Golden Boy Award, saying only one of the past winners was slightly better than he was: Lionel Messi.

23. In his second season with Inter, Mario Balotelli had a number of disciplinary problems, most notably involving head coach Jose Mourinho, who excluded him from the first team in the second half of January 2009.