Kids playing in the streets stopped in the later part of the 90s where I came from. When I was growing up in the 80s it was a glorious time. Streets back then were tough. Back then a kid would play in the street,go train and play with his boys club team,annd train with a pro club once a week and if good enough sign a Schoolboy form with a Professional club.I don't think kids were playing more in the streets - certainly in this country - any more when Messi was 10 years old. It's only the late 90s we're talking about. I can't recall the streets being full of kids doing 360s and so on back then??? If anything the streets were a bit more hostile then. Kids do play in recs, playgrounds, parks and so on. Some on the streets too!
The good old days