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.
BELGIUM
“Don’t tell me what’s wrong. Tell me how you’d fix it.”
Roberto Martinez can see now that his life and career have been shaped by these words and the man who recited them. That challenge, to solve a problem identified on the pitch, came from his father, himself a player, coach and football obsessive. And it was posed, repeatedly, to Roberto from the age of just nine. Even now, as the 47-year-old coach and technical director of the world’s top-ranked team, he is still subjected to the same conversations-cum-interrogations from this most demanding of mentors.
These days, he can of course bring to these animated father-son chats a wealth of evidence that underline his credentials as an elite coach and accomplished problem-solver.
The most recent exhibits include leading Belgium to their best-ever finish at a FIFA World Cup™ and, for the past three years, keeping them perched imperiously at the summit of FIFA/Coca World Ranking. All that is left to do with the Red Devils is win a major trophy and, in this interview, the man leading their ‘golden generation’ tells FIFA.com how much he is savouring that challenge.
“Don’t tell me what’s wrong. Tell me how you’d fix it.”
Roberto Martinez can see now that his life and career have been shaped by these words and the man who recited them. That challenge, to solve a problem identified on the pitch, came from his father, himself a player, coach and football obsessive. And it was posed, repeatedly, to Roberto from the age of just nine. Even now, as the 47-year-old coach and technical director of the world’s top-ranked team, he is still subjected to the same conversations-cum-interrogations from this most demanding of mentors.
These days, he can of course bring to these animated father-son chats a wealth of evidence that underline his credentials as an elite coach and accomplished problem-solver.
The most recent exhibits include leading Belgium to their best-ever finish at a FIFA World Cup™ and, for the past three years, keeping them perched imperiously at the summit of FIFA/Coca World Ranking. All that is left to do with the Red Devils is win a major trophy and, in this interview, the man leading their ‘golden generation’ tells FIFA.com how much he is savouring that challenge.
Being a foreigner has definitely helped me a lot. The moment I started making big decisions, it was clear the only reason I had was to create a better team.
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.
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.
