FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently opened up about his lifelong passion for football, sharing that Inter legend Evaristo Beccalossi was one of his earliest childhood idols. Infantino spoke to AS as FIFA prepares for the 2026 World Cup, touching on the tournament’s organization and his personal connection to the sport.
Childhood Dreams and Football Heroes
Infantino expressed, “I’ve been a total football fan since I was a child. I have many idols. I remember the World Cup in Spain in 1982, which Italy won with Paolo Rossi and that entire team of great players. For me, it was spectacular. I was a 12-year-old boy at the time, and that team and that moment are deeply engraved in my heart.”
As a devoted Inter supporter, Infantino continued, “One of my first idols – perhaps not widely known in Spain – was Evaristo Beccalossi, a No. 10 who didn’t participate in that World Cup or with the national team due to the coach’s different plans. Inter’s No. 10 made us dream, and sometimes… well, he did things that can’t be easily described. I also recall Alessandro Altobelli scoring a spectacular third goal and celebrating against Germany in the final.”
Evaristo Beccalossi enjoyed a notable career at Inter, playing for six seasons from 1978 to 1984, during which he scored 37 goals in 217 matches. Despite his reputation as one of the era’s most creative footballers, he never made his senior debut for the Italian national team.
Tributes to Football’s Greatest
Infantino’s reflections extended to other footballing legends. “Speaking about the 1980s and 1990s, we must talk about Diego Maradona, one of the greatest of all time,” he remarked. “When you watch the images now, you realize what he achieved and what he was capable of, especially considering players weren’t protected like they are today. He was an idol, a phenomenon.”
He added, “I didn’t see Pelé play, but he became a global idol even before social media and globalization. He’s still an idol for children today who never saw him play – that truly signifies he did something special. Ronaldo Nazario was also a phenomenon. Whenever you ask players who the strongest player they played with was, ninety percent say Ronaldo; he was spectacular.”
Contemporary Icons and the Future of Club Football
Discussing today’s football heroes, Infantino highlighted, “They’re still here – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But I also want to remember all the Spaniards who won the 2010 World Cup. Many of them are friends now: Xavi, Iniesta, Casillas, Puyol… Spain has consistently produced great players and coaches like Vicente del Bosque, Luis Aragonés, and Pep Guardiola. These individuals have written football history, and we are very grateful to Spain for their contributions.”
Infantino concluded by addressing the Club World Cup, stating, “With the Club World Cup, we provide opportunities to players from all over the world. While we primarily see big clubs in Europe and America, this tournament allows us to showcase great clubs from other continents as well. Club football is the foundation of the sport. Much more is played at the club level than at the national team level, and it truly needed an international tournament like this. It has been a success. We are now in discussions to explore how we can improve it further. People mention thirty-two teams, but there could potentially be more. We will decide where it will be played – that hasn’t been determined yet – but we’ll take the necessary time after the World Cup to refine it.”
