The victories and great personalities of Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba on stage at the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award
The 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award is just around the corner. Starting on Wednesday, July 3rd, this year’s event promises an impressive array of talents, as it brings together celebrated athletes to honor the highest ideals of sportsmanship.
Among the highlights of this year’s edition is the recognition of two football icons: Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba. The two strikers will receive their awards at the final ceremony on Thursday, July 4th in Fiesole.
The jury has added two of the greatest football strikers in history to this year’s panel of awardees. Both have won many trophies and raised awareness about significant social issues in the sports world. They significantly impacted every team they played for, leveraging their strong personalities to become standout figures in the most prestigious matches.
Samuel Eto’o is best known for his successful spells at Futbol Club Barcelona and Inter Milan. He won three UEFA Champions League titles, four championships, and three national cup trophies with these clubs. Over more than two decades, Eto’o maintained his role as a prolific striker in various teams, always displaying fighting spirit and professionalism while playing in Russia, England, Italy, Turkey, and Qatar.
Didier Drogba was a long-serving symbol of the Chelsea Football Club. He achieved significant triumphs and became renowned for netting decisive goals at pivotal junctures. Throughout his career at Chelsea, Drogba maintained an exceptional goal-scoring rate. In the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, his goal and the decisive penalty kick he converted secured the victory for Chelsea.
On the international stage, Didier Drogba was pivotal in putting Ivory Coast on the map. Winning the African Footballer of the Year award in both 2006 and 2009, Drogba captained his team to their first World Cup finals in 2006, marking a historic first for the nation.
Samuel Eto’o’s influence on the Cameroon national team mirrors that of Didier Drogba for Ivory Coast. Holding the record for the most goals scored for Cameroon, Eto’o’s illustrious career includes an Olympic gold medal and three Africa Cup of Nations titles. His achievements have cemented his status as one of the most iconic and impactful players in the history of Cameroonian football.
Eto’o and Drogba have embodied Africa’s desire to assert itself in international sports, but they have also been recognized as champions in the fight against racism. They used their fame to promote inclusion and diversity in soccer, an environment often plagued by prejudices and discrimination.
Eto’o and Drogba have shown strong leadership off the field as well: their foundations’ humanitarian work aims to enhance young Africans’ lives through education and sports.
The Fair Play Menarini International Award has honored the ethical values, loyalty, and respect demonstrated by these two champions, making them among the most anticipated athletes for the 2024 edition.
Upcoming Events of the Fair Play Menarini International Award
Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and the other champions will be featured at the Roman Theatre of Fiesole on Thursday, July 4, during the award ceremony of this 28th edition. The event is free and open to the public with prior registration required on TicketOne:
Here are the awardees of the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award:
DIDIER DROGBA
SAMUEL ETO’O
MARCO BELINELLI
FEDERICO BUFFA
FABIO CANNAVARO
ALESSANDRO COSTACURTA
GIUSEPPE DOSSENA
CIRO FERRARA
CESARE FIORIO
FRANCESCA LOLLOBRIGIDA
GIAN PAOLO MONTALI
CESARE PRANDELLI
ROBERTO RIGALI
CLEMENTE RUSSO
AMBRA SABATINI
Winners of the 28th Fair Play Menarini Youth Award:
GIOELE GALLICCHIO
NICOLÒ VACCHELLI
UNDER-14 GIRLS’ ASD GOLFO BASKET
Winner of the Fiamme Gialle ‘Study and Sport’ Special Award:
AGNESE MORI