Zinedine Zidane,

an exceptional Ambassador

 

 

Zinedine Zidane is a retired French football player who won all the major international and European trophies. He is one the most loved icons in France and worldwide.

 

Ambassador of the Danone Nations Cup for 6 years, he enhanced the awareness of the event thanks to his involvement.

For a young footballer, being sponsored by Zinedine Zidane is the greatest honour imaginable. His commitment to the Danone Nations Cup has boosted the event’s profile enormously.

 

For each of the last six years, France’s celebrated number 10 has been there on the pitch with the children to kick off the World Final.

 

 

Interview with Zinedine Zidane:

 

The Danone Nations Cup for you…

 

The Danone Nations Cup is a real World Cup for children. I would have loved to have the opportunity to experience such an adventure at that age. For kids all over the world, it’s a chance in a lifetime to take part in such a huge event!

 

For me, it is a very natural commitment. When I was a kid, I had everything I needed, a happy childhood, and as an adult, in return, I wish to bring the most I can to children.

 

  

Can you tell us a bit more about your work to help children?

 

Unfortunately, my professional career as a soccer player has left me little time to devote to them. Since I left the game, I feel the need to involve myself more in that project, as I have the chance of doing so too. I have the impression that there is an easy connection between myself and the kids and that I can bring them a lot.

 

The idea behind Groupe DANONE’s will to commit itself to youth projects is to allow these children to believe in their dreams. I personally believed in my dreams until the end and this is why today, I want to pass on this will.

 

At the age of 11, you can really enjoy football to the full. It’s just a passion. You just have to let the kids play, enjoy themselves and take full advantage of these moments, which they will remember for the rest of their lives. For some of them, life will become more serious and complicated later.

 

  

Your message to the young footballers:

 

But at their age, it’s all about having fun. We professional players don’t really have that chance…we are involved in real competitions where the stakes are enormous, and so it’s all about winning. The kids want to win too, but losing isn’t so bad… it’s part of the learning curve in sport.

My message to them is: enjoy it! The Danone Nations Cup is all about playing for the fun of the game and taking some incredible memories home with you at the end. It’s priceless!

 

 

Would you have liked to take part in a tournament like this when you were a kid?

 

It’s true that I wasn’t lucky enough to have a tournament like this when I was young. But being an ambassador for it today, somehow that lets me live that boyhood dream a little… that’s the most important thing… just to enjoy the experience.