Eight inspiring footballers nominated for 2024 FIFPRO Merit Awards

Professional footballers are more than just players. Away from dedicating long hours to excelling in their profession, many footballers are using their platform to generate positive change in society.

Each year, FIFPRO pays tribute to players giving back to their communities with the Merit Awards. During its upcoming General Assembly in Indonesia on 26-28 November, FIFPRO will announce the winners of the Merit Awards, which are divided into three categories:

• Player Activism Award – bringing about political or social change
• Player Impact Award – seeking to create impact in the lives of others
• Player Voice Award – highlighting an issue and influencing change

FIFPRO member unions nominated eight candidates for this year's Merit Awards, raising awareness about their players and their commitment to support others. Take a look at how these eight footballers have been using their platform to make a positive difference.

Junior Baometu

Club: DC Motema Pembe
Country: DR Congo
Initiative: Fondation Nadine Longo Baometu (Fonalba)

Defender Junior Baometu, capped by DR Congo, and wife Nadine created Fondation Nadine Longo Baometu (Fonalba) to educate and empower women and girls who have been victims of violence in eastern DR Congo. Many of these women and girls have lost their families. Fonalba provides girls with school kits to enable them to study and also offers women training to help with future job prospects.

Ga-Ae Kang

Club: Sejong Sports Toto WFC
Country: Korea Republic

Goalkeeper Ga-Ae Kang is the main driver behind the efforts of Korean footballers and their union KPFA to elevate the wellbeing and rights of women’s players. In a country where it is not common to speak out, Kang has used her platform to highlight necessary changes to advance the women’s game in Korea. The former national team player is doing her utmost to rally footballers behind improving working conditions, abolishing the salary cap, and making the Women’s K League more visible.  

Marc Klok

Club: Persib Bandung
Country: Indonesia
Initiative: Marc Klok Foundation

Netherlands-born midfielder Marc Klok has developed into a prominent footballer in Indonesia since arriving in the country in 2017. Now an Indonesia international, Klok has established a foundation that is supporting underprivileged children by building schools and sports facilities that are often lacking in the country. Klok’s vision is that every child should have the same opportunities in education and sport to allow them to chase their dreams.

Keun-Ho Lee

Club: Retired
Country: Korea Republic

Former Korea Republic international Keun-Ho Lee is using his platform and resources as a renowned footballer to support a long list of charitable causes, including building a hospital, taking care of sick players and providing opportunities for young people. The 2012 AFC Asian Player of the Year was also the chairperson of the 2024 Seoul Homeless World Cup.

Giorgos Merkis

Club: Retired
Country: Cyprus
Initiative: Charity Idols Cyprus 

After playing professional football for almost two decades and making over 50 international appearances for Cyprus, Giorgos Merkis amassed an impressive stock of memorabilia, especially shirts from opposing players. The former centre-back helped launch Charity Idols Cyprus, which organises auctions where memorabilia from well-known footballers and athletes are sold and all proceeds donated to smaller charities. Merkis has also included over 50 jerseys from his own collection in these auctions.

Andre Onana

Club: Manchester United
Country: Cameroon
Initiative: Andre Onana Foundation

Manchester United and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana launched the Andre Onana Foundation to provide free medical care and high-quality surgeries to underprivileged communities in Cameroon and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The foundation collaborates with a group of surgeons and medical professionals who each year offer life-changing surgeries and care to hundreds of people, particularly children. His foundation has performed over 1,200 surgical operations in three years.

Zoran Rakic

Club: RFK Novi Sad 1921
Country: Serbia

When Serbian midfielder Zoran Rakic was captaining second-tier side RFK Novi Sad 1921 during their final match last season, the club president and coach ordered him and his team-mates to fix the game by relinquishing their 2-0 lead and helping their opponents avoid relegation from the second division. Rakic rejected the approach and convinced his team-mates they had to respect the game and do their best to maintain their side’s lead. Rakic and his team-mates stood firm and won the match 2-0, upholding the integrity of the game in a country rife with match-fixing.

Linda Sallstrom

Club: Vittsjo GIK
Country: Finland

Finland’s all-time top scorer, Linda Sallstrom is on track to become her country’s most-capped player. The striker has been outspoken on human rights issues and various injustices not only restricted to football but also to society, such as equality, racism, sportswashing and democracy. Earlier this year, Sallstrom confronted fans who harassed her team-mates during a match.

About the Merit Awards

FIFPRO has organised the Merit Awards since 2008 to honour professional footballers who have made a great contribution to charity. In 2020, three categories were introduced – Player Activism, Player Impact and Player Voice ­– with many footballers being socially engaged in different ways.