Cover From financing local medical networks to donating match earnings directly to paediatric care, these World Cup athletes are using their platforms to address critical systemic issues. In photo: Son Heung-min of South Korea at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Korea Republic and Czechia in Mexico (Photo: Julian Finney - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
From financing local medical networks to donating match earnings directly to paediatric care, these World Cup athletes are using their platforms to address critical systemic issues. In photo: Son Heung-min of South Korea at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Korea Republic and Czechia in Mexico (Photo: Julian Finney - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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From local schools to medical relief, discover how World Cup stars use their massive wealth to rebuild communities
Footballers are often defined by the numbers attached to their names: transfer fees, weekly wages and endorsement deals worth millions. Yet some of the biggest names to grace the World Cup measure success very differently. Away from packed stadiums and trophy celebrations, they are funding hospitals, building schools, supporting vulnerable children and investing in communities that rarely make the headlines. For these players, football has become more than a career. It is a platform to create lasting change for people who need it most. Their charitable work is a reminder that while the World Cup may crown champions, generosity has the power to transform lives long after the final whistle.
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Kylian Mbappé
Primary Charity: Premiers de Cordée
The 2018 World Cup champion has turned his initial pledge into a lifelong practice. Mbappé continues to donate 100% of his match fees and bonuses from playing for the French national team. Rather than a one-time gesture, his ongoing international match income is directly channelled to various causes through his own foundation, Inspired by KM, which funds educational, athletic and community programmes for children from all backgrounds across France.
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Lionel Messi
Primary Charities: Leo Messi Foundation and Unicef
With the 2026 World Cup currently underway in North America, Messi's philanthropic reach has expanded to global tournament-related initiatives. In July 2026, Christie’s and the global anti-poverty charity Global Citizen launched the “One Goal” online auction. Headlined by signed memorabilia from Messi and other international players, the initiative is raising money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund to expand education and sports access for children in underserved communities.
Marcus Rashford
Primary Charity: FareShare and Child Food Poverty Task Force
Coinciding with the 2026 World Cup, Rashford’s highly publicised community efforts have transitioned into educational legacy projects. In 2026, Manchester Libraries and Withington Walls launched the Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope digital resource. Built to celebrate his work tackling child food poverty, this free interactive resource is being distributed to schools and community settings to teach youth about empathy, community action and positive social change.
Sadio Mané
Primary Charity: Bambali Community Infrastructure and Education
Having previously built a €250,000 high school (2019) and a £455,000 hospital (2021) in his native village of Bambali, Senegal, Mané has spent the last few years scaling the village's infrastructure into a self-sustaining regional hub. His focus has pivoted toward technology, funding local 4G internet infrastructure and digital learning centres to ensure the youth have competitive, modern skillsets.
Mohamed Salah
Primary Charity: The Mohamed Salah Charity Foundation
Operating through The Mohamed Salah Charity Foundation founded in 2017, Salah has shifted much of his attention to emergency relief and community rebuilding. Alongside his massive donations to the National Cancer Institute in Cairo and local water treatment plants, Salah has also stepped in to fund the reconstruction of key national infrastructure, including donating millions of Egyptian pounds to help rebuild community spaces and churches damaged by fire in Giza.
Erling Haaland
Primary Charity: City in the Community and Time Municipality Youth Sports Manchester City
The prolific striker has focused his philanthropic efforts on grassroots youth sports and regional heritage. Following a major fundraising auction and dinner he designed for Manchester City’s club charity in late 2025, Haaland secretly acquired a rare 1594 edition of Snorre Sturlason’s Kongesagaer at auction for €118,000.Rather than keeping the historic book, he donated it to his home municipality of Time in Norway and launched a reading competition to engage local school children. This initiative builds on his previous six-figure donation of custom football equipment packages to 1,000 young players in his home region.
Son Heung-min
Primary Charity: United Nations World Food Programme
The South Korean captain and Tottenham Hotspur forward has scaled up his global humanitarian influence. Serving as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme, Son uses his international platform to advocate for global food security, conflict recovery and disaster relief systems. Beyond these global campaigns, he continues to direct substantial personal funds to emergency recovery efforts in South Korea, regularly donating to support local communities affected by severe seasonal wildfires and public health crises.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
