An Argentine with the right balance

Related video: An Argentine with the right balance

Football trickster finds plenty of admiring fans at the Expo, Li Xinzhu reports.

While World Cup fever may have come and gone, one performer at the Expo 2010 Shanghai is still in a football frenzy. Victor Rubilar, a 24-year-old freestyle football juggler from Argentina, performs daily in front of the City Square near the Qatar Pavilion.

As the holder of four titles in the Guinness Book of World Records: most footballs juggled; longest time football spun of forehead by an individual; most rolls of football across forehead; and greatest distance traveled balancing a ball on the head, he amazes crowds with his juggling and performing skills.

Rubilar played football when he was younger, but found himself more interested in performing with footballs.

"I still play football, but only with my friends," he said. "I have a strong foundation in football, which has given me more confidence to control footballs with my body."

He started his career as a freestyle juggler seven years ago. He received a degree from a performing arts school and gained experience by performing in magic shows.

Now, as a full-time freestyle juggler, he travels the world performing and entertaining people. He has traveled to more than 130 cities in different countries, such as India, Canada, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

And this footballer enjoys his jet-setting lifestyle.

"I like traveling around, since I am interested in getting to know different cultures," he said.

And he's especially excited to be a part of the Expo. "I love Shanghai. It's amazing here far beyond my imagination," he said. "It's just the weather here is too hot, and very humid."

Rubilar delivers an exciting performance to his audiences. Even in the summer heat, he insists on performing in his long-sleeve coat.

Though Rubilar doesn't speak Chinese, he can tell the audience appreciates his show and still wants to communicate with visitors who are interested in his performances.

"I've made great connections with them by using body language," Rubilar jokingly said.

When he's finished in Shanghai, he will create new performances that combine juggling with music and will continue to travel.

He said that he also enjoys his job because it affords him the opportunity to meet some of his football idols, stars like Maradona, Messi and Pele.

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(China Daily 07/23/2010 page36)