10 Footballers Who Are Known For Their Charity

Passion, love, respect, fanaticism-all of these are synonymous to football. For most of the fans, football is a way of life. Whilst football is their religion, football players are gods they worship. Footballers are famous for their charity work. Almost every football club and big footballing conglomerate does very good job in the developing countries for their upliftment. Here are some of the most renowned footballers who do charity.

1. Didier Drogba

Footballers Who Are Known For Their Charity

The ex-Chelsea forward is known for his exceptional charity work towards his home nation. His plea to support Ivory Coast in the 2006 World Cup ended a 5-year-old civil war in his country. Due to his influence on his country, he was on TIME magazine's 100 most influential people of 2010. He also has a charity organization called The Didier Drogba Foundation which works toward the betterment of basic necessities in Ivory Coast.

2. Craig Bellamy

This Premier League star has donated 1.4 million pounds of his own earnings in Sierra-Leone to start the Craig Bellamy Foundation, which provides world-class education to young minds along with training them for football.

3. Jack Wilshere

He might not have a charity or any form to his name but he created waves on the social media for his humble gesture towards a young boy named Jack Marshall. Jack Marshall was suffering with brain tumor and Wilshere use to hang out with Marshall and his family. He even invited them to his place for barbeque parties.

4. Mario Balotelli

He is the true Dabangg of the European football. Always in the news for all the wrong reasons, Balotelli has emerged as a generous person off the pitch. He, reportedly, have been seen giving out 1000 pounds to the destitute. And his generosity doesn't end here-he donates half of his salary to various charities. Super Mario Indeed!

5. Dirk Kyut

Dirk Kyut is known for his down-to-earth attitude both on and off the pitch. His charity foundation called the Dirk Kyut Foundation works toward the upliftment of children in developing countries. He and his wife, Gertrude Kyut, both are very active with the Dirk Kyut Foundation.

6. Ryan Giggs

He might not be as renowned as other football stars when it comes to charity but he is very active with UNICEF. He visited Sierra-Leone to work with UNICEF. He is also pretty active with the 'Show Racism The Red Card' campaign.

7. Michael Essien

Jose Mourinho's favorite mid-fielder, Michael Essien, does a lot of charity with the only thing he knows-Football. He had organized a charity match last year between Africa XI and World XI in Ghana and this year he also plans to do the same. He is also the peace ambassador selected by African Union to promote peace in Africa.

8. Mesut Ozil

The latest to join the charity chariot is German international Ozil. Ozil donated his World Cup earnings, i.e. 237,000 pounds to the World Cup host nation Brazil. 23 Brazilian children to will get benefit from this and will be able to use the money for their medical needs. That's what we call a champion in its truest form!

9. Lionel Messi

Another very famous face who does charity is Lionel Messi. Messi has a foundation named Leo Messi Foundation and he is an active member of UNICEF. Besides this, Messi actively donates to his home country Argentina. Be it the construction of his childhood club's dormitory or restoration of a hospital in his home town, he is there to help out.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo

Lastly, the Real Madrid legend Ronaldo is a brand himself to whom charity comes naturally. He is always available to support his home town or his fans or any major international event. He donated 1.5 million euros to set up schools in Gaza by selling the Golden Boot he won in 2012. He has helped to set up a cancer center in Madeira. He is now the brand ambassador for 'Save The Children' campaign which helps those kids who suffer from hunger and obesity.
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Men will be Men

Saturday, 9 August 2014