Most of us set daily reminders in some shape or form, probably to put the bins out or to jog the memory with certain tasks at work.
Dele Alli's daily reminder is slightly different, as the words 'World Cup 2026' pop up on his phone every morning at 11am.
Despite not kicking a ball in a competitive game of football for nearly two years – his last minutes were in February 2023 during a brief loan spell at Turkish club Besiktas – Dele still believes in himself, which is the key word when charting his many highs and lows.
It was belief that took him from a troubled childhood to one of the star men in Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side, the one that got to the Champions League final.
It was belief that made him the ace in Gareth Southgate's pack as the nation started to love England again.
Most of us set daily reminders in some shape or form - Dele Alli's daily reminder is slightly different
The words 'World Cup 2026' pop up on the former England man's phone every morning at 11am
Despite not kicking a ball in a competitive game of football for nearly two years, Dele still believes in himself
But it was a lack of said belief after that 2018 World Cup that saw him plunge from posterboy to outcast as Jose Mourinho left him out of the Spurs XI and even matchday squad, with a minimal level of communication at the heart of the downfall. Injuries and fatigue also played their part.
Several years have passed since his demise at the north London club but Dele is ever so slowly re-finding that belief again.
He is a player and person who needs an arm round the shoulder, a bit of love from his coaches, just as Pochettino and Karl Robinson at MK Dons demonstrated.
While Everton boss Sean Dyche – Dele is training with them – might feel like a man cut from the old-school cloth to many, he is attentive to players' needs and is willing to help Dele. Maybe not back to his very best but certainly to give him a leg-up to start climbing the ladder once more.
Although Dele getting back to the level required to play in the World Cup in 2026 might sound outlandish or several steps too far, this 28-year-old from Milton Keynes has fought off more adversity than 99 per cent of footballers to get to the position he is in now.
It is not worth going into too much detail over that adversity – many will know the harrowing tale by now. But here is a brief recap, in his own words from an interview with Gary Neville's The Overlap that was hard to watch but equally impossible to take your eyes off.
'My childhood is something I haven't really spoken about that much, to be honest,' he said. 'There were a few incidents that could give you kind of a brief understanding. So, at six, I was molested by my mum's friend, who was at the house a lot. My mum was an alcoholic.
'I was sent to Africa to learn discipline, and then I was sent back. At seven, I started smoking, eight I started dealing drugs.
It was belief that took him from a troubled childhood to one of the star men in Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side
It was also belief that made him the ace in Gareth Southgate's pack as the nation started to love England again
But it was a lack of said belief after that 2018 World Cup that saw him plunge from posterboy to outcast as Jose Mourinho left him out of the Spurs XI
'An older person told me that they (police) wouldn't stop a kid on a bike, so I rode around with my football, and then underneath I'd have the drugs.
'Eleven, I was hung off a bridge by a man from the next estate. Twelve, I was adopted by an amazing family — I couldn't have asked for better people to do what they've done for me.'
This month marks five years since Dele was first omitted from an England squad. Given the sheer number of attacking midfielders or forwards at Lee Carsley's disposal, he is not hugely missed – but many projected him to be a mainstay with the Three Lions for years to come.
The 28-year-old has not played since that tough-to-watch but important interview, or his appearance on Sky's Monday Night Football as a studio guest, but has been training with Everton in order to rediscover his fitness. He needs belief in his body as much as his ability.
He finally left Tottenham for the Goodison Park club in January 2022 and put in some important performances to help Frank Lampard's side achieve safety that season. But he soon found himself on loan in Turkey, where he failed to make an impact.
Dele did not play a single minute last season due to a long-term thigh injury, though there was a banner hung in the Gwladys Street End as fans offered their support following his brave public admissions about his childhood.
He is now technically a free agent. Everton are open to offering him a new contract if he proves his fitness, and Tottenham have been good to him by writing off an agreement that would see them paid £10million if he played 20 times for the Toffees – he is currently on 13 appearances.
There is a slight catch 22 with getting him signed. As he is not registered, he is ineligible to play in, say, Under-21 matches to prove his fitness and ability again. But without a programme of matches, it is hard for him to do that. Behind-closed-doors friendlies are said to be an option.
While Everton boss Sean Dyche might feel like a man cut from the old-school cloth to many, he is attentive to players' needs
An interview with Gary Neville's The Overlap was hard to watch but equally impossible to take your eyes off
The 28-year-old has not played since that tough-to-watch but important interview, or his appearance on Sky's Monday Night Football as a studio guest
If he were to sign for Everton, Mail Sport understands that Spurs would now be compensated in performance-based bonuses and also with a sell-on clause. French club Lille have been among clubs to show an interest in signing him.
He is still in touch with his old friends at Spurs, including Ben Davies and Eric Dier. Pochettino also retains a strong relationship with Dele and the United States boss is regularly in contact.
During that Sky appearance, the then Chelsea boss said: 'I want to say hello to Dele. What a player! Oh, my goodness.'
It is now understood that Dele sees the 'light at the end of the tunnel' in terms of his road to recovery – a physical and mental journey. He suffered a setback in his injury rehabilitation earlier this month – a slight muscle strain different to the long-term problem.
The 28-year-old was affected this week by the death of footballer George Baldock in Greece as the pair grew up together at MK Dons. They also shared a representative in Harry Hickford, who is Dele's adoptive brother and Baldock's agent.
Asked about him last week, Dyche said: 'It's not easy but unfortunately it is part of being a professional footballer. Not for all, of course. I had a year out with my back, played one game and then did my back again the next week.
'You work for six or seven months and then you're out for another seven months, it's hard. Your body is the tool you need and if it breaks down it is really difficult. But you find your way through it. Players are fortunate now. With me my career was on the line.
'Now most of these guys, not all, make enough money to look after themselves for the future. Not that it's about that, it doesn't make it feel any better when you're injured, but it's worse when you're out for that long, you don't know what is coming next and you are on the breadline.
If he were to sign for Everton, Mail Sport understands that Spurs would now be compensated in performance-based bonuses
French club Lille have been among clubs to show an interest in signing Alli when he returns to fitness
He is still in touch with his old friends at Spurs, including Ben Davies (pictured) and Eric Dier
'But he has had a tough run of it, there is no doubt about that – and (it is) on the back of him feeling better about himself. To have this period out has been very challenging for him but whenever I see him he seems to be in good spirits.'
No matter which team you support, hearing Dele is in good spirits should bring a smile to your face, especially noting this is someone who struggled to even watch football on the TV during his darkest moments. He now seems to be only looking forward.
World Cup 2026 might be a big ask but why not reach for the stars? Even if he never returns to his best level, just playing regularly again will be a success story noting the seismic adversity he has overcome in his life.