Footballers often get tough treatment from the world’s press, as they are often given the tags of rolemodels as soon as they break into the first team. Some stars are able to live up to this tag throughout their career, as they set about changing the world for the better and ensuring that those that dream of becoming a professional player can do so. These are three of the most inspiring football players to have played the game.
Marcus Rashford
It seems difficult to start anywhere else at present than Marcus Rashford. Ever since making his Manchester United debut at the age of 17 in the Europa League, Rashford has needed to perform at the highest level with all eyes on him as he played for the biggest club in world football. His performance on the pitch have been inspiring, as he was an important part of the United teams that have won the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League.
However, it has been his actions off the pitch that have been getting the headlines this year, as he has been active in campaigns to help child food poverty. His actions have been widely appreciated, and he is also one of the front runners for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. His drive to change the United Kingdom has also seen him awarded an MBE and a Pride of Britain award.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is rightly regarded as one of the finest footballers of this generation, but the Real Madrid star needed to fight his battles to make it to the highest level of the game. The midfielder was born during the Croatian War of Independence, which meant that he was forced to live with that threat throughout his childhood.
However, Modric was able to prove to Croatians that they could come out of the conflict and embark on a career in football as he made his name at Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. After a four-year stay with the Premier League side, Modrid moved to Real Madrid and won the Champions League on four occasions. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.
David Beckham
David Beckham is the most famous footballer on the planet, and even throughout his career he has been an inspiration to every child around the planet. Not only were they inspired by his commitment for the sport, with Becks often practising his craft to perfect it for hours on the training ground, but he also paved out a better world for those living in unthinkable circumstances.
Beckham works closely with Unicef, as well as a campaign that helps injured Army personnel that are returning from conflict. Beckham also has his one Trust, which is called the Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust. Beckham is one of the finest examples of sportsman using their platforms to help those around the world, and that has continued since retiring as he constantly works with charities to this day.