Meet the inspiring players nominated for the FIFPRO Merit Awards

• The 2025 FIFPRO Merit Awards honour players driving positive change
• Winners will be announced during the FIFPRO General Assembly in Lisbon (18–20 November) across three categories: Player Activism, Player Impact, and Player Voice
• This year’s nominees include players leading initiatives in education, equality, mental health, inclusion, and community empowerment 

As the global voice of professional footballers, FIFPRO not only protects players’ rights but also celebrates their influence beyond the game. Each year, the FIFPRO Merit Awards honour players who drive positive change, supporting their communities, standing up for equality, and inspiring the next generation.

During the 2025 FIFPRO General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal on 18-20 November, the winners will be announced across three categories: Player Activism, Player Impact, and Player Voice. 

• Player Activism Award – for driving political or social change.
• Player Impact Award – for initiatives creating a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
• Player Voice Award – for using their influence to raise awareness and inspire action.

This year’s nominees showcase the best of football’s humanity – footballers who prove that leadership extends far beyond the pitch.

Pierrick Capelle (France)

Pierrick Capelle (Angers SCO) helped rebuild a school in Madagascar, giving more than 300 children access to education and sport. Inspired by his friendship with former international Pascal Razanantenaina, Capelle personally financed much of the project and supports local organisations to promote inclusion through sport and learning.

Noemie Carage and Lena Goetsch (France)

Noemie Carage (Dijon FCO) and Lena Goetsch (FC Fleury) founded Football for All (Tous Au Foot) at Dijon in 2019 (when Goetsch was still at the club), giving youth and adults with disabilities the chance to play football twice a week. The pair personally support the programme by joining the football sessions and by partnering with sponsors to host inclusive events, including an annual tournament that now welcomes around 100 players.

Eberechi Eze (England)

Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) founded the Eze Foundation to bridge the gap between education and employment. He has already offered hundreds of young people opportunities through workshops, internships, and networking. He also organises the Eze Invitational, a free annual football tournament in South London that has united his community for the past three years.

Eleonora Goldoni (Italy)

Eleonora Goldoni (Lazio) co-founded We Football, a foundation that has launched five sport-for-development academies across Africa, trained over 400 local coaches, and engaged more than 5,000 children and young people through football. The organisation uses the game to teach life skills such as respect, leadership, and gender equality, while strengthening community bonds.

Pavel Kaderabek (Czechia)

Pavel Kaderabek (Sparta Prague) and his wife founded a charitable initiative called Every Minute Counts (Každá minuta rozhoduje), encouraging players to donate a small amount for every minute they play during the season. The project, which now involves 26 professional players – including internationals Patrik Schick, Vaclav Cerny, David Jurasek, Matej Kovar, Tomas Holes, Adam Hlozek, and Katerina Svitkova – directs 100 percent of funds to causes chosen collectively by the participants.

Andreas Tetteh (Greece)

Andreas Tetteh (AE Kifisia), who has Ghanaian roots, became the anti-racism ambassador for the Greek player union PSAPP in March 2025. Having faced racist abuse during his career, Tetteh promotes diversity and inclusion, speaking in schools, collaborating with NGOs, and raising awareness through Greek media as a powerful voice against discrimination.

Will Vaulks (Wales)

Will Vaulks (Oxford United) is a long-standing advocate for mental-health awareness and suicide prevention, inspired by his own family experiences. An ambassador for Baton of Hope, the UK’s largest suicide-awareness initiative, he helped launch the Can We Talk? campaign with his club in 2024 and has earned PFA Community Awards at three different clubs for his commitment to supporting others.

Lotte Wubben-Moy (England)

Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal) created Lots to Explore with the Gunners in 2022, combining art, writing, and football to empower teenage girls to express themselves and build confidence. Relaunched in 2025 with expanded activities, the programme now supports 55 participants, while Wubben-Moy’s campaign for equal access to football in schools helped prompt a UK government commitment to improve girls’ sport ahead of EURO 2025.