FLORENCE, 20 June 2024 – The Members of the Board of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation, Antonello Biscini, Valeria Speroni Cardi and Ennio Troiano, are delighted to welcome another champion to the roster of 2024 award winners. 

The Award Jury has added a global football legend, striker Samuel Eto’o, to this year’s list of winners. 

Voted best African football player of the century in 2007, Eto’o has stamped his mark in Cameroon’s footballing history, winning a gold medal at the Olympics in 2000 and two African Cups in 2000 and 2002. He is still his country’s all-time leading goal scorer with an impressive 56 goals.

He cemented his place in Europe as one of the best strikers in modern football. When playing for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side, he won three La Liga titles and two Champions League Cups. With Josè Mourinho’s Inter side, he played a decisive role in 2010, winning the Italian League, Coppa Italia and Champions League. He is the only player to have won two consecutive Trebles (top-tier league title, primary national cup and Champions League) with two different teams (Barcelona in 2009 and Inter in 2010).

Samuel Eto'o, Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images

In 2021, he was appointed President of Cameroon’s Football Federation. Throughout his career, he has been known for his social commitment with the Fundación Privada Samuel Eto'o, founded to provide help to young Cameroonians. Samuel Eto’o has always been on the frontline  against racism in football, epitomising the values of ethics, loyalty, and respect of the Fair Play Menarini International Award.

Eto’o and the other stars of the 28th edition will take the stage of the Roman Theatre in Fiesole on Thursday, July 4 during the awards ceremony. The event is free and open to the public following registration on TicketOne (link).

For further information: www.fairplaymenarini.com

Here is the list of the winners of the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award: 

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

The winners of the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award, category “Young Athletes”
GIOELE GALLICCHIO
NICOLÒ VACCHELLI
UNDER 14 GIRL’S BASKET BALL TEAM ASD GOLFOBASKET CLUB

The winner of the special “Fiamme Gialle Study and Sport” award
AGNESE MORI

Guests of honour of the 28th Fair Play Menarini International Award, the Fair Play ambassadors:

GIANCARLO ANTOGNONI
ELISA DI FRANCISCA
FEDERICA PELLEGRINI
GIORGIO PORRÀ
GIUSY VERSACE