MANCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELDER Juan Mata is hoping footballers around the world will join him in donating to and supporting the charity fund Common Goal.
“Today, I am launching something that I hope will help to change the world, even if only in some small way,” Mata wrote in the Players Tribune. “And I hope that other footballers around the world will help me in this goal.”
In the piece for the publication, Mata details his journey through the game and spoke of how his grandfather’s passing last season made him evaluate what he wished his legacy to be.
Mata explained how he has decided to give back to the less fortunate in hopes they can have a similar chance that he had, and promised to donate one per cent of his salary toward the Common Goal fund.
“I thought about everything football had given me,” Mata wrote. “And I thought about what I wanted my legacy to be.
“I knew how lucky I was to have the opportunities I’d had — and that not everyone has a family like mine.
“And even though I’ve been engaged with charities before, I knew that I wanted to do something more. I want to make sure that other kids get the chances I had.
“So starting today, I am pledging 1% of my salary to Common Goal, a collective fund — run by the award-winning NGO streetfootballworld — that supports football charities around the globe. It’s a small gesture that if shared can change the world.”
What Mata hopes is that he is the first of a worldwide effort to support the game through footballers’ local charities and organizations.
“I’m asking my fellow professionals to join me in forming a Common Goal Starting XI. Together we can create a movement based on shared values that can become integral to the whole football industry — forever.
“I am leading this effort, but I don’t want to be alone.”
Mata also hopes this effort moves beyond individual players and to the entire footballing industry.
“The focus now is on contributions from players, but the the long-term goal is to unlock 1% of the entire football industry’s revenues for grassroots football charities that strengthen their communities through sport.”
Mata also discussed the impact of visiting a a charity in Mumbai, India and seeing the children enjoying the game despite the difficulties they faced due to poverty. The experience cemented his desire to help children around the world get an opportunity through the beautiful game.
“They knew we were there to help, and there was this tangible energy in the air. And, I think, in the same way that I gave my grandfather life — these children were giving me life.
“So now I would like to call upon my fellow footballers to help. We have so many opportunities simply because we play a children’s game. We are so lucky to live a dream. Let’s come together and help kids everywhere experience that same light and joy. By doing so we can show the wider football industry that Common Goal needs to happen and that it will happen, because it’s right.”
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Defo one of the true gentlemen left in the game he is a class act on and off field
@43 major trophies:
Yes.Fantastic gesture.One of the good guys.
Nice to see a footballer that still has his feet on the ground well done
@mark kenny: Agreed that it’s a nice gesture but footballers on massive wages should be in a position to give more. Even a guy on €500 per week, whatever his profession, could easily afford to donate €5 to charity. The per centage of wages donated should be left for each individual player to decide. I’m sure 1% of Neymar’s wages would be a tidy sum.
Defiantly a nice gesture.. But it won’t changing the world that’s for sure.. But the message will surely resonate. If only every professional footballler done this every year or every so often.. Doubt they’ll miss or need that 1% of their wages.
@Acedeuce: 1% of 1million is 10Gs and I’d imagine he’s on a hell of a lot more than that year.Imagine how far that would go in places like Mumbai
@Jamie: you’d definitely go far with that money in India.. Anyone with a decent wage in Ireland would get on well India as long as you don’t mind watching very rich people mix and completely ignore child poverty, rape, child trafficking, disease and plenty more.. But other than that you’d live like a king
@Acedeuce: what are you on about?who said anything about living there?i just pointed out that the 1% he donates would change a lot of people’s worlds who live in poor countries.Stop being a grump
@Acedeuce: maybe thats what he means? To provoke every top earner to do the same?
And i do think that most alreay donate quite a lot.
@Jamie: you said how far 10gs would go in India.. You didn’t say how far 10g would go for people in dire poverty .. But yeah it would do plenty. But I’d have to hand the money over to personally, nobody in there right mind would trust the Indian government.. They’re able to spend billions on space programmes and send stuff into space but yet can’t feed their own people..
@Acedeuce: did you even read the article as to why I referenced Mumbai as an example?
One of the few good guys left in a sick environment after the way the game has gone
@ClydaMan: have a pint and cheer up ffs
What a nice guy , if every footballer did this I’d have more respect for them. 1% is nothing to these lads but what a great gesture fair play to him, hopefully more follow
Even when he scores a screamer against your club he’s the kind of player you couldn’t dislike. Fair play to him.
Haven’t non-profit organisation FIFA got over a BILLION dollars on deposit in Switzerland? Surely they can take care of grass roots football. Fair play to Mata, but why not help world poverty in a more general sense…
@Fionn Falcao: they are a registered charity believe it or not, one that makes money from getting countries to bid to host a world cup then also get the winning country to pay for brand new stadiums for said world cup while whipping up the majority of the profit!!
@Fionn Falcao: FIFA have given millions to streetfootballworld, the NGO running this charity.
@John Buckley: I should hope so John. Considering they have over USD$1,000,000,000 held in reserve
@Fionn Falcao: so you agree. They have done good? What’s with your one sided post earlier so?
Class act senor mata. Love it.
You won’t change the world but you will change alot of lives. Fair play
Nice one Juan
The guy is pure class
Should call it the “Juan percent” scheme
You wouldn’t see Sturridge make a statement like this. Class from Mata.
@Matt Taylor: why single one player out?
@Matt Taylor: Sturridge has set up a charity in his own name. Most footballers are generous enough but like above very unfair to single out individuals
@Matt Taylor: ahh sorry. You had another post in a different article where i thought you were making a point, scrolling down to this article it just seems you’re a knob
Sure 1% is nothing. I’m giving nearly 60% of everything i earn to a group with severe learning difficulties who can’t tell left from right not to mind wrong from right and are really just an advertisement for repealing the 8th.
@Ruairi O’Bric: that was probably funnier in your head
Team rivalries aside.. as football fans i think we can all agree that Mata’s a proper lad
I think the two line dancers could take a close look at how a real pro does it.
Could change it ten times over if he gave 10%! However. Still generous compared to many of us.
@Michael Ahern: There it is. Took a while.
@Michael Ahern: And he could change even more lives if he donated 50% of his wages Michael. You just couldn’t leave it at that could you,had to get the dig in.
@An Observer: I was going to write a big long paragraph on why he’s being an idiot but that’s fairly obvious why. It’s all relative Michael so are you donating 1%.. or 10%?
@Michael Ahern: yeah he earns a lot and 1% is nothing in the grand scheme of things. What is something is that he also gives to other charities in a more meaningful way. He also has a family immediate and maybe extended that he provides for, plus a footballer was protect themselves financially for their future after football. How many players just disappear into obscurity after there career ends?