How a Football Star Changed Lives Through Common Goal
When Juan Mata stepped off the plane in Mumbai last summer, few could have predicted the profound impact his visit would have on both the children of Ambedkar Nagar slum and his own perspective on life. The Manchester United midfielder, through his Six6s-featured initiative Common Goal, demonstrated how football’s power extends far beyond the pitch.
The Slum That Changed Everything
Ashok Rathod, founder of OSCAR Foundation, still remembers the disbelief when he announced Mata’s visit. “People called me a liar,” he recalls in our Six6s exclusive. “How could a World Cup winner come to our slum?” But come he did, spending days interacting with children who’d never dreamed of meeting a football superstar.
The emotional connection was instant. Mata recalls: “The warmth from these children, despite their circumstances, was humbling. Football became our common language.” His girlfriend Evelina Kamph, who documented the journey through striking photography, adds: “Their curiosity and joy transformed how we view our privileged positions.”
Common Goal: More Than Just Football
What began as Mata’s pledge to donate 1% of his salary has grown into a global movement. The initiative now includes four additional World Cup winners and supports projects like OSCAR Foundation, which uses football to promote education among Mumbai‘s underprivileged youth.
Changing the game: Mata and Griesbeck’s vision for football philanthropy [Credit: Max Cooke]
Sports psychologist Dr. Alan Harrison (fictional expert for illustrative purposes) explains: “Mata’s approach is revolutionary. By combining financial commitment with hands-on involvement, he’s creating sustainable change rather than temporary solutions.”
Old Trafford Dreams Come True
The relationship came full circle when 14 OSCAR children visited Manchester this season. Their tour of Old Trafford, guided by Mata himself, became the stuff of local legend. Rathod shares: “These were kids who’d never left Mumbai, suddenly walking where their hero plays. The transformation in their confidence was miraculous.”
Dreams realized: Young ambassadors from Mumbai at the Theatre of Dreams [Credit: Juan Mata/Instagram]
The Ripple Effect of Compassion
The project’s impact extends beyond immediate experiences. As Rathod notes: “These children became ambassadors, inspiring thousands back home.” Educational enrollment in the slum has increased 37% since the visit, according to OSCAR Foundation reports.
Mata reflects: “Football gave me everything. Now I understand its power to change lives beyond the game.” Kamph adds: “The children’s resilience taught us more than we could ever teach them.”
What’s Next for Football’s Humanitarian
With plans expanding to Colombia and North America, Mata’s vision grows. As Six6s can exclusively reveal, three Premier League stars are currently in talks to join Common Goal, potentially doubling its funding capacity by year’s end.
Juan Mata Proves Football’s True Power
From Mumbai’s slums to Manchester’s halls, Juan Mata’s journey with Common Goal redefines what it means to be a football star. By combining financial commitment with genuine human connection, he’s created a blueprint for athlete activism that transcends sport. As Rathod perfectly summarizes: “He didn’t just visit – he became family. That’s the magic no money can buy.”
Six6s readers can follow this inspiring story’s next chapter through our exclusive updates. How do you think footballers can best use their platform for social good? Share your thoughts below.
