Our global ambassador Zinedine Zidane

Meet Zinedine Zidane in The Never Ending Pass

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 8 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:

You’ve been ambassador of the Danone Nations Cup for nearly ten years. What’s behind that loyalty?

At some point in your life,you want to give something back. Football has given me so much, and I wanted to pass on my experience to the younger generation, not just from a technical point of view, but more in terms of the state of mind you need to adopt. When you’re 11, football really is just a game. It’s a passion that you live to the full with your friends. My message is a simple one. You have to hold on to that attitude through the years. Football has the power to bring people together, whether on the pitch or in the stands. Every year, I’m amazed to see all these kids coming from the four corners of the earth, with their different languages andcultures...yet when they come together on the pitch, all the barriers disappear!

What’s your role at DANONE?

I’m helping to develop programmes and initiatives for children, which of course includes the Danone Nations Cup. I’m keen to pass on what life has given me and give something back, and so it was only natural for me to join forces wi th Danone and Franck Riboud, who are launching a number of initiatives for children in every part of the world. Together, we’re developing prog r ammes focusing on nutrition, physical and intellectual development, for children all over the planet. I am also in the Danone Communities board alongside Franck Riboud and Professor Yunus.