Pablito magnificently propelled Italy, against all odds, to FIFA World Cup? glory in 1982. Diego delivered a mind-blowing campaign as Argentina conquered the Trophy four years later. With quotes, videos, statistics and more, we hail two unforgettable footballers.
This document lays out a plan to further modernise the football world, make it increasingly inclusive and pave the way to a landscape in which, one day, we will have around 50 national teams and 50 clubs from all continents at a top competitive level. This is a vision to make football truly global.
TOKYO 2020
If there is one attribute, besides excellence, that has set the US women’s national team apart, it is steely self-assurance. They are the best in the world and, as individuals and a collective, the USWNT unabashedly bask in that hard-earned status.
Sam Mewis has more reason than most to walk with that swagger in her step. After all, in this peerless team, she stands as the pre-eminent performer, having recently been voted – by a handsome margin – US Soccer’s Female Player of the Year.
But when coach Vlatko Andonovski describes this outstanding midfielder as “a true example of what the USWNT stands for”, it is not because she bears that hallmark of unshakeable self-confidence. Far from it.
The 28-year-old stands, as Andonovski recognises, for another defining quality of the USWNT: its determination to never stand still, to never rest on its many achievements. It is that same dedication to continual self-improvement which transformed Mewis from a bit-part player, who didn’t make the Canada 2015 squad, to a first pick in 2019 and now, in the words of Megan Rapinoe, "the best player in our team”.
If there is one attribute, besides excellence, that has set the US women’s national team apart, it is steely self-assurance. They are the best in the world and, as individuals and a collective, the USWNT unabashedly bask in that hard-earned status.
Sam Mewis has more reason than most to walk with that swagger in her step. After all, in this peerless team, she stands as the pre-eminent performer, having recently been voted – by a handsome margin – US Soccer’s Female Player of the Year.
But when coach Vlatko Andonovski describes this outstanding midfielder as “a true example of what the USWNT stands for”, it is not because she bears that hallmark of unshakeable self-confidence. Far from it.
The 28-year-old stands, as Andonovski recognises, for another defining quality of the USWNT: its determination to never stand still, to never rest on its many achievements. It is that same dedication to continual self-improvement which transformed Mewis from a bit-part player, who didn’t make the Canada 2015 squad, to a first pick in 2019 and now, in the words of Megan Rapinoe, "the best player in our team”.
I definitely feel more confident in saying ‘I belong here’ these days. But in this team there’s always that fire underneath me that tells me, ‘The second I stop improving, someone’s going to pass me.’
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
Having broken the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly by being named The Best FIFA Men's Player and, Robert Lewandowski has his sights on another achievement for the ages.
He has arrived in Doha for FIFA Club World Cup? aiming to help FC Bayern München complete, in his own words, "one of the biggest historical achievements in all of football".
The European champions' prolific Pole certainly comes into the tournament in spectacular form, having scored 24 times in 19 appearances to lift Bayern to their accustomed position atop of the Bundesliga.
The Qatar 2020 trophy would complete a historic sextuple for the Bavarian behemoths and equal the feat of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009/10. It would also cap a halcyon year for a supreme striker who, at 32, continues to scale new heights.
Lewandowski chatted to FIFA.com about Bayern's Club World Cup mission, their UEFA Champions League triumph, being crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player and whether he’s now reached his peak.
Having broken the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly by being named The Best FIFA Men's Player and, Robert Lewandowski has his sights on another achievement for the ages.
He has arrived in Doha for FIFA Club World Cup? aiming to help FC Bayern München complete, in his own words, "one of the biggest historical achievements in all of football".
The Qatar 2020 trophy would complete a historic sextuple for the Bavarian behemoths and equal the feat of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009/10. It would also cap a halcyon year for a supreme striker who, at 32, continues to scale new heights.
Lewandowski chatted to FIFA.com about Bayern's Club World Cup mission, their UEFA Champions League triumph, being crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player and whether he’s now reached his peak.
Winning The Best meant a lot. In the first moments you don’t realise exactly what it means, but over the next days and weeks you realise that you’ve won maybe the most important title in your life.
Iceland
Bearded, tattooed and brimming with passion, Aron Gunnarsson is widely seen as the embodiment of Iceland’s national team. He was named captain at 23, and a famous back tattoo – based on the country’s coat of arms – reflects his pride in holding that position.
When Iceland beat England to reach the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter-finals, it was Gunnarsson who led the first player-fan rendition of the now-legendary ‘Viking Clap’. But from the moment Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson began moulding a team that would write football history, they had identified this all-action midfielder as the rock on which they would build.
“He’s a shining example of what we would like to stand for,” Hallgrimsson said in 2018. “What he stands for as a player… he’s our living identity.”
Given this glowing tribute, it should be no surprise that one of the first calls Hallgrimsson made, after leaving Iceland to take charge of Qatari side Al Arabi, was to his former skipper. Gunnarsson, restless and ready for a change, took up the offer that followed. And it was from his new home in Qatar that the 31-year-old spoke to FIFA.com, discussing Iceland’s heartbreaking EURO qualifying failure, their FIFA World Cup? hopes and life in the country that will host the 2022 finals.
Bearded, tattooed and brimming with passion, Aron Gunnarsson is widely seen as the embodiment of Iceland’s national team. He was named captain at 23, and a famous back tattoo – based on the country’s coat of arms – reflects his pride in holding that position.
When Iceland beat England to reach the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter-finals, it was Gunnarsson who led the first player-fan rendition of the now-legendary ‘Viking Clap’. But from the moment Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson began moulding a team that would write football history, they had identified this all-action midfielder as the rock on which they would build.
“He’s a shining example of what we would like to stand for,” Hallgrimsson said in 2018. “What he stands for as a player… he’s our living identity.”
Given this glowing tribute, it should be no surprise that one of the first calls Hallgrimsson made, after leaving Iceland to take charge of Qatari side Al Arabi, was to his former skipper. Gunnarsson, restless and ready for a change, took up the offer that followed. And it was from his new home in Qatar that the 31-year-old spoke to FIFA.com, discussing Iceland’s heartbreaking EURO qualifying failure, their FIFA World Cup? hopes and life in the country that will host the 2022 finals.
I get asked that question a lot: ‘Do we still have the hunger?’ And for me it’s a definite yes. It’s the best feeling ever to be representing your country in a big tournament.
Morocco, Mali among African climbers
Discover
Belgium
Pts. 1780
France
Pts. 1755
Brazil
Pts. 1743
England
Pts. 1670
Portugal
Pts. 1662
Spain
Pts. 1645
Malta join the party, USA stay top
Discover
USA
Pts. 2192
Germany
Pts. 2091
France
Pts. 2032
Netherlands
Pts. 2023
Sweden
Pts. 2009
England
Pts. 1999
As the world’s number one sport, football is uniquely placed to strengthen initiatives that can improve the lives of young people around the world.
