Jan Vertonghen recognised for inspiring charity work with Marcus Rashford Award

• Presented in partnership with WFS and FIFPRO, the Marcus Rashford Award reaffirms the legacy of the England striker’s child food poverty campaign
• The award is directed at athletes who have championed programs and actions that have a positive impact on their communities
• The Jan Vertonghen Foundation enables children in Belgian hospitals to play and be creative regardless of their illness

Jan Vertonghen has become the latest recipient of the Marcus Rashford Award, an accolade which celebrates athletes who have actively promoted initiatives and efforts that bring about positive change in their communities.

The former Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur, Benfica and Anderlecht defender has been recognised for his work with the Jan Vertonghen Foundation, a charity which inspires children in Belgian hospitals to play and be creative regardless of their illness.

Vertonghen started his foundation in 2018 on the occasion of his 100th international appearance and has since developed various activities and built around 15 playgrounds. Many of these areas have been created at hospitals.

Writing for FIFPRO in April 2024, Vertonghen stated: “I am convinced sports and play can have a positive influence on the mental wellbeing of children. Playing outside has had a huge impact in how I live my life, and on my health as well. So, that’s why I wanted to focus on two things: inspiring children in hospitals to play and be creative, and stimulating children to play more outside by creating modern playgrounds.”

The Jan Vertonghen Foundation last year also started a collaboration with a university hospital in Antwerp that helps children and adolescents with psychiatric problems (UKJA). Through his organisation, Vertonghen provides the hospital with resources to integrate exercise and sports into the treatment and wellbeing of the children.

Marcus Rashford Award

The Marcus Rashford Award is presented in partnership with World Football Summit and FIFPRO, and reaffirms the legacy of the England striker’s child food poverty campaign.

Vertonghen is the third recipient of the accolade; Denmark international Sofie Junge Pedersen won the inaugural award in 2023 for her work building an environmentally sustainable culture in football, before one-time Norway international Mushaga Bakenga won last year’s award for developing a school for an orphanage of more than 300 children in DR Congo.