Mario Balotelli, as you might have guessed, is Italian. He is also black, Jewish, and a soccer star. In some ways, a symbol of diversity and success. In other ways, a disaster waiting to happen.

Despite his skills on the soccer field, Balotelli has faced serious issues with racism as part of his career. Being adopted by a Jewish family and having family in Israel, some extremist soccer fans believe he should play for Israel, not for the Italy that is his home.

But through it all, Balotelli has had his Jewish identity to guide him. His mother, Silvia, is a constant inspiration; he says, “I told her that these historic goals in my career are dedicated to her." His team took a recent trip to visit Aushwitz and Birkenau before the UEFA Euro 2012 finals, where Balotelli got the chance to reflect on his adoptive roots and to meet with the president of Maccabi Italy, Vittorio Pavoncello.

What do you think of the Jewish-Italian soccer star?