Emiliano Sala: Record signing striker rose to fame with sheer hard work

Cardiff City football club's record signing striker Emiliano Sala was on board a light aircraft that went missing over the English Channel late on Monday. Following are facts about Sala, who joined the Premier League side from Nantes this week in a deal British media reported was worth about 17 million euros ($19.31 million):

* Born Emiliano Raul Sala Taffarel in Argentina's Santa Fe Province on October 31, 1990.

* Began his playing career as a youth at Argentinian side Club Proyecto Crecer, before heading to France where he signed for Girondins de Bordeaux.

* The striker made his debut for the club in 2012 before going on loan to French sides Chamois Niortais and Caen.

* He joined Nantes in 2015 and has scored 42 goals for the French Ligue 1 side so far.

* Sala scored 12 goals this season and is third behind Kylian Mbappe (14) and Nicolas Pepe (13) among top scorers.