#INSERT type:image caption:Subotic and Paul, a refugee from Mali who has inspired him, at the harbour. CREDIT - Alexander Völkel / Nordstadtblogger.END#
Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic marked his 26th birthday by helping an 18-year-old refugee from Mali with his work.
Earlier this year, Subotic met the 18-year-old, called Paul, at the inauguration of a five-a-side league in a deprived neighbourhood of the Ruhr town.
The central defender joined his friend, who is serving an apprenticeship at a recycling company in Dortmund harbour, for the day.
Local blog Norstadblogger reported him as saying: "He has hugely impressed me and inspired me. He is a special person and a role model for me.
"After two years, his knowledge of the German language is much better than that of quite a few of my teammates."
According to the report, Paul had followed the fortunes of Borussia Dortmund from Africa and, after fleeing Mali, decided he wanted to start the next stage of his life in the German town.
"I was more than touched when I heard his story," Subotic said.
After attending the inauguration of the five-a-side league, the Serbia international had said he would "love to get to know" the people involved, adding: "I want to find out where you are from, what made you join the league and what your dreams are."
The BVB star was born in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, and his family was one of many forced to leave the country during the conflict of the early 1990s.
They relocated to the south of Germany, but moved on to the U.S. in 1999, where Subotic's footballing talent was discovered.
He was brought back to Germany by Mainz. There, he met Jurgen Klopp, who turned him into a Bundesliga professional.
Subotic has spent his last two summers in Africa, where his charitable foundation has helped create wells at outposts in Ethiopia and Mozambique.