It is ten years since Ivan Rakitić swept home Andres Iniesta’s pass to put Barcelona in front against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final. That will seem like a lifetime to some Barça fans, accustomed to Champions League glory in the early part of this century. It literally is a lifetime for some of the kids he has been helping in his role as ambassador for the UEFA Foundation for Children, which celebrated its tenth birthday on 24 April.
Rakitić is now back in his native Croatia and in the middle of a tight race for the title with Hajduk Split. But he was happy to take some time off to explain the responsibility he feels off the pitch as much as on it.
“I know how much influence we footballers can have,” the 37-year-old says. “Footballers can effect change. With only small things, we can make a big difference. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone. As a kid, the chance to meet a famous footballer would have meant more than anything else in the world. So, to be in a position where I can bring joy to children is one of the greatest honours of my life. We have this unique ability as footballers to do something small, and yet it can make an enormous impact. That’s my biggest motivation and my greatest joy.”
The Foundation supports charities across the word and, since it was established in 2015, it has partnered with 577 projects in 138 countries, reaching nearly five million people. It works to promote children’s rights and uses football as a positive catalyst for improvement in areas such as health, education, personal development, the integration of minorities and employability.
Rakitić recalls one ten-year-old girl in particular leaving a lasting impression. Loukia is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and French and has become a minor celebrity in her own right for her work with the A Ball for All association, supporting blind and visually impaired people. At the Paris Olympics last summer, she became the first person to test out the touch2see tactile tablet, which enables visibly impaired people to feel movements of the ball through vibrations on the tablet. Before that, she had impressed Rakitić with her intelligence and eloquence during a long conversation at the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
“Meeting Loukia was one of the most beautiful moments for me. Amid the intensity of a major final, that one encounter stood out more than anything else. I had the chance to sit with her, talk and give her a hug – to feel her warmth. It made everything feel meaningful. I think I got more from that moment than she did. A football career lasts 15, 16 or 17 years, depending on the player, but these moments stay with you for life. They remind you why you do what you do. The passion, the drive – it all comes back to something simple: sharing happiness. Being there for your family and for others. I think when you have that perspective, everything else falls into place. Being part of something bigger than football is what gives meaning beyond the pitch. This anniversary is a reminder of how much has been done, and how much more is possible. I’m excited for the future.”
The Foundation also supports work at the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, which is home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children. Sports activities such as football give children the opportunity to play even in a situation of war. “Projects like that are incredibly important,” Rakitić says. “Those children have talent and dreams, but they also face huge challenges. We can help give them motivation and energy. The Foundation doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach – it finds different ways to help kids, no matter the circumstances.
“There’s no better feeling than seeing the impact, helping children feel like children again. To play, laugh, connect, that’s the real win. Seeing them find joy in the middle of such difficulty is inspiring. It reminds us that hope is powerful, and that with just a little support, these kids can thrive. And if we can help even a few of them believe in a better future, then it’s all worth it.”
It is ten years since Ivan Rakitić swept home Andres Iniesta’s pass to put Barcelona in front against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final. That will seem like a lifetime to some Barça fans, accustomed to Champions League glory in the early part of this century. It literally is a lifetime for some of the kids he has been helping in his role as ambassador for the UEFA Foundation for Children, which celebrated its tenth birthday on 24 April.
Rakitić is now back in his native Croatia and in the middle of a tight race for the title with Hajduk Split. But he was happy to take some time off to explain the responsibility he feels off the pitch as much as on it.
“I know how much influence we footballers can have,” the 37-year-old says. “Footballers can effect change. With only small things, we can make a big difference. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone. As a kid, the chance to meet a famous footballer would have meant more than anything else in the world. So, to be in a position where I can bring joy to children is one of the greatest honours of my life. We have this unique ability as footballers to do something small, and yet it can make an enormous impact. That’s my biggest motivation and my greatest joy.”
The Foundation supports charities across the word and, since it was established in 2015, it has partnered with 577 projects in 138 countries, reaching nearly five million people. It works to promote children’s rights and uses football as a positive catalyst for improvement in areas such as health, education, personal development, the integration of minorities and employability.
Rakitić recalls one ten-year-old girl in particular leaving a lasting impression. Loukia is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and French and has become a minor celebrity in her own right for her work with the A Ball for All association, supporting blind and visually impaired people. At the Paris Olympics last summer, she became the first person to test out the touch2see tactile tablet, which enables visibly impaired people to feel movements of the ball through vibrations on the tablet. Before that, she had impressed Rakitić with her intelligence and eloquence during a long conversation at the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
“Meeting Loukia was one of the most beautiful moments for me. Amid the intensity of a major final, that one encounter stood out more than anything else. I had the chance to sit with her, talk and give her a hug – to feel her warmth. It made everything feel meaningful. I think I got more from that moment than she did. A football career lasts 15, 16 or 17 years, depending on the player, but these moments stay with you for life. They remind you why you do what you do. The passion, the drive – it all comes back to something simple: sharing happiness. Being there for your family and for others. I think when you have that perspective, everything else falls into place. Being part of something bigger than football is what gives meaning beyond the pitch. This anniversary is a reminder of how much has been done, and how much more is possible. I’m excited for the future.”
The Foundation also supports work at the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, which is home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children. Sports activities such as football give children the opportunity to play even in a situation of war. “Projects like that are incredibly important,” Rakitić says. “Those children have talent and dreams, but they also face huge challenges. We can help give them motivation and energy. The Foundation doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach – it finds different ways to help kids, no matter the circumstances.
“There’s no better feeling than seeing the impact, helping children feel like children again. To play, laugh, connect, that’s the real win. Seeing them find joy in the middle of such difficulty is inspiring. It reminds us that hope is powerful, and that with just a little support, these kids can thrive. And if we can help even a few of them believe in a better future, then it’s all worth it.”
It is ten years since Ivan Rakitić swept home Andres Iniesta’s pass to put Barcelona in front against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final. That will seem like a lifetime to some Barça fans, accustomed to Champions League glory in the early part of this century. It literally is a lifetime for some of the kids he has been helping in his role as ambassador for the UEFA Foundation for Children, which celebrated its tenth birthday on 24 April.
Rakitić is now back in his native Croatia and in the middle of a tight race for the title with Hajduk Split. But he was happy to take some time off to explain the responsibility he feels off the pitch as much as on it.
“I know how much influence we footballers can have,” the 37-year-old says. “Footballers can effect change. With only small things, we can make a big difference. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone. As a kid, the chance to meet a famous footballer would have meant more than anything else in the world. So, to be in a position where I can bring joy to children is one of the greatest honours of my life. We have this unique ability as footballers to do something small, and yet it can make an enormous impact. That’s my biggest motivation and my greatest joy.”
The Foundation supports charities across the word and, since it was established in 2015, it has partnered with 577 projects in 138 countries, reaching nearly five million people. It works to promote children’s rights and uses football as a positive catalyst for improvement in areas such as health, education, personal development, the integration of minorities and employability.
Rakitić recalls one ten-year-old girl in particular leaving a lasting impression. Loukia is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and French and has become a minor celebrity in her own right for her work with the A Ball for All association, supporting blind and visually impaired people. At the Paris Olympics last summer, she became the first person to test out the touch2see tactile tablet, which enables visibly impaired people to feel movements of the ball through vibrations on the tablet. Before that, she had impressed Rakitić with her intelligence and eloquence during a long conversation at the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
“Meeting Loukia was one of the most beautiful moments for me. Amid the intensity of a major final, that one encounter stood out more than anything else. I had the chance to sit with her, talk and give her a hug – to feel her warmth. It made everything feel meaningful. I think I got more from that moment than she did. A football career lasts 15, 16 or 17 years, depending on the player, but these moments stay with you for life. They remind you why you do what you do. The passion, the drive – it all comes back to something simple: sharing happiness. Being there for your family and for others. I think when you have that perspective, everything else falls into place. Being part of something bigger than football is what gives meaning beyond the pitch. This anniversary is a reminder of how much has been done, and how much more is possible. I’m excited for the future.”
The Foundation also supports work at the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, which is home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children. Sports activities such as football give children the opportunity to play even in a situation of war. “Projects like that are incredibly important,” Rakitić says. “Those children have talent and dreams, but they also face huge challenges. We can help give them motivation and energy. The Foundation doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach – it finds different ways to help kids, no matter the circumstances.
“There’s no better feeling than seeing the impact, helping children feel like children again. To play, laugh, connect, that’s the real win. Seeing them find joy in the middle of such difficulty is inspiring. It reminds us that hope is powerful, and that with just a little support, these kids can thrive. And if we can help even a few of them believe in a better future, then it’s all worth it.”
It is ten years since Ivan Rakitić swept home Andres Iniesta’s pass to put Barcelona in front against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final. That will seem like a lifetime to some Barça fans, accustomed to Champions League glory in the early part of this century. It literally is a lifetime for some of the kids he has been helping in his role as ambassador for the UEFA Foundation for Children, which celebrated its tenth birthday on 24 April.
Rakitić is now back in his native Croatia and in the middle of a tight race for the title with Hajduk Split. But he was happy to take some time off to explain the responsibility he feels off the pitch as much as on it.
“I know how much influence we footballers can have,” the 37-year-old says. “Footballers can effect change. With only small things, we can make a big difference. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone. As a kid, the chance to meet a famous footballer would have meant more than anything else in the world. So, to be in a position where I can bring joy to children is one of the greatest honours of my life. We have this unique ability as footballers to do something small, and yet it can make an enormous impact. That’s my biggest motivation and my greatest joy.”
The Foundation supports charities across the word and, since it was established in 2015, it has partnered with 577 projects in 138 countries, reaching nearly five million people. It works to promote children’s rights and uses football as a positive catalyst for improvement in areas such as health, education, personal development, the integration of minorities and employability.
Rakitić recalls one ten-year-old girl in particular leaving a lasting impression. Loukia is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and French and has become a minor celebrity in her own right for her work with the A Ball for All association, supporting blind and visually impaired people. At the Paris Olympics last summer, she became the first person to test out the touch2see tactile tablet, which enables visibly impaired people to feel movements of the ball through vibrations on the tablet. Before that, she had impressed Rakitić with her intelligence and eloquence during a long conversation at the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
“Meeting Loukia was one of the most beautiful moments for me. Amid the intensity of a major final, that one encounter stood out more than anything else. I had the chance to sit with her, talk and give her a hug – to feel her warmth. It made everything feel meaningful. I think I got more from that moment than she did. A football career lasts 15, 16 or 17 years, depending on the player, but these moments stay with you for life. They remind you why you do what you do. The passion, the drive – it all comes back to something simple: sharing happiness. Being there for your family and for others. I think when you have that perspective, everything else falls into place. Being part of something bigger than football is what gives meaning beyond the pitch. This anniversary is a reminder of how much has been done, and how much more is possible. I’m excited for the future.”
The Foundation also supports work at the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, which is home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children. Sports activities such as football give children the opportunity to play even in a situation of war. “Projects like that are incredibly important,” Rakitić says. “Those children have talent and dreams, but they also face huge challenges. We can help give them motivation and energy. The Foundation doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach – it finds different ways to help kids, no matter the circumstances.
“There’s no better feeling than seeing the impact, helping children feel like children again. To play, laugh, connect, that’s the real win. Seeing them find joy in the middle of such difficulty is inspiring. It reminds us that hope is powerful, and that with just a little support, these kids can thrive. And if we can help even a few of them believe in a better future, then it’s all worth it.”
It is ten years since Ivan Rakitić swept home Andres Iniesta’s pass to put Barcelona in front against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final. That will seem like a lifetime to some Barça fans, accustomed to Champions League glory in the early part of this century. It literally is a lifetime for some of the kids he has been helping in his role as ambassador for the UEFA Foundation for Children, which celebrated its tenth birthday on 24 April.
Rakitić is now back in his native Croatia and in the middle of a tight race for the title with Hajduk Split. But he was happy to take some time off to explain the responsibility he feels off the pitch as much as on it.
“I know how much influence we footballers can have,” the 37-year-old says. “Footballers can effect change. With only small things, we can make a big difference. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone. As a kid, the chance to meet a famous footballer would have meant more than anything else in the world. So, to be in a position where I can bring joy to children is one of the greatest honours of my life. We have this unique ability as footballers to do something small, and yet it can make an enormous impact. That’s my biggest motivation and my greatest joy.”
The Foundation supports charities across the word and, since it was established in 2015, it has partnered with 577 projects in 138 countries, reaching nearly five million people. It works to promote children’s rights and uses football as a positive catalyst for improvement in areas such as health, education, personal development, the integration of minorities and employability.
Rakitić recalls one ten-year-old girl in particular leaving a lasting impression. Loukia is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and French and has become a minor celebrity in her own right for her work with the A Ball for All association, supporting blind and visually impaired people. At the Paris Olympics last summer, she became the first person to test out the touch2see tactile tablet, which enables visibly impaired people to feel movements of the ball through vibrations on the tablet. Before that, she had impressed Rakitić with her intelligence and eloquence during a long conversation at the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
“Meeting Loukia was one of the most beautiful moments for me. Amid the intensity of a major final, that one encounter stood out more than anything else. I had the chance to sit with her, talk and give her a hug – to feel her warmth. It made everything feel meaningful. I think I got more from that moment than she did. A football career lasts 15, 16 or 17 years, depending on the player, but these moments stay with you for life. They remind you why you do what you do. The passion, the drive – it all comes back to something simple: sharing happiness. Being there for your family and for others. I think when you have that perspective, everything else falls into place. Being part of something bigger than football is what gives meaning beyond the pitch. This anniversary is a reminder of how much has been done, and how much more is possible. I’m excited for the future.”
The Foundation also supports work at the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, which is home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children. Sports activities such as football give children the opportunity to play even in a situation of war. “Projects like that are incredibly important,” Rakitić says. “Those children have talent and dreams, but they also face huge challenges. We can help give them motivation and energy. The Foundation doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach – it finds different ways to help kids, no matter the circumstances.
“There’s no better feeling than seeing the impact, helping children feel like children again. To play, laugh, connect, that’s the real win. Seeing them find joy in the middle of such difficulty is inspiring. It reminds us that hope is powerful, and that with just a little support, these kids can thrive. And if we can help even a few of them believe in a better future, then it’s all worth it.”
It is ten years since Ivan Rakitić swept home Andres Iniesta’s pass to put Barcelona in front against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final. That will seem like a lifetime to some Barça fans, accustomed to Champions League glory in the early part of this century. It literally is a lifetime for some of the kids he has been helping in his role as ambassador for the UEFA Foundation for Children, which celebrated its tenth birthday on 24 April.
Rakitić is now back in his native Croatia and in the middle of a tight race for the title with Hajduk Split. But he was happy to take some time off to explain the responsibility he feels off the pitch as much as on it.
“I know how much influence we footballers can have,” the 37-year-old says. “Footballers can effect change. With only small things, we can make a big difference. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone. As a kid, the chance to meet a famous footballer would have meant more than anything else in the world. So, to be in a position where I can bring joy to children is one of the greatest honours of my life. We have this unique ability as footballers to do something small, and yet it can make an enormous impact. That’s my biggest motivation and my greatest joy.”
The Foundation supports charities across the word and, since it was established in 2015, it has partnered with 577 projects in 138 countries, reaching nearly five million people. It works to promote children’s rights and uses football as a positive catalyst for improvement in areas such as health, education, personal development, the integration of minorities and employability.
Rakitić recalls one ten-year-old girl in particular leaving a lasting impression. Loukia is fluent in Greek, English, Italian and French and has become a minor celebrity in her own right for her work with the A Ball for All association, supporting blind and visually impaired people. At the Paris Olympics last summer, she became the first person to test out the touch2see tactile tablet, which enables visibly impaired people to feel movements of the ball through vibrations on the tablet. Before that, she had impressed Rakitić with her intelligence and eloquence during a long conversation at the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.
“Meeting Loukia was one of the most beautiful moments for me. Amid the intensity of a major final, that one encounter stood out more than anything else. I had the chance to sit with her, talk and give her a hug – to feel her warmth. It made everything feel meaningful. I think I got more from that moment than she did. A football career lasts 15, 16 or 17 years, depending on the player, but these moments stay with you for life. They remind you why you do what you do. The passion, the drive – it all comes back to something simple: sharing happiness. Being there for your family and for others. I think when you have that perspective, everything else falls into place. Being part of something bigger than football is what gives meaning beyond the pitch. This anniversary is a reminder of how much has been done, and how much more is possible. I’m excited for the future.”
The Foundation also supports work at the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, which is home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, 57% of whom are children. Sports activities such as football give children the opportunity to play even in a situation of war. “Projects like that are incredibly important,” Rakitić says. “Those children have talent and dreams, but they also face huge challenges. We can help give them motivation and energy. The Foundation doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach – it finds different ways to help kids, no matter the circumstances.
“There’s no better feeling than seeing the impact, helping children feel like children again. To play, laugh, connect, that’s the real win. Seeing them find joy in the middle of such difficulty is inspiring. It reminds us that hope is powerful, and that with just a little support, these kids can thrive. And if we can help even a few of them believe in a better future, then it’s all worth it.”
