This painting, to put it simply, is about the power of connection. In this hyper-connected world that we live in where people feel less connected than ever, it is important to remember, appreciate, and engage in the things that bring us together. For me, soccer (or futbol or football, it doesn’t really matter) has always been a place for me to feel united with a person or a group of people, in the pursuit of challenging ourselves, appreciating our bodies, and exploring our physical limits, but mainly just having fun.
I wanted to make this painting out of appreciation for the beautiful game, the players, and the tournaments, which have brought people together for over a hundred years. I wanted to show gratitude for being able to watch the greatest World Cup in history in 2022 and what a profound moment of unity it was for people all over the world to support one man on his quest to achieve greatness. As millions can attest, watching him play, witnessing that journey and the joy he brought people not only in Argentina but across the globe, was one of the most awe inspiring and simply inspirational things I’ve ever witnessed. But it wasn’t just about one man it’s about what he represents. For that reason, I included him along with seven other legends, all representing different countries, who provide a similar vein of hope for hundreds of thousands more people.
I also really wanted to highlight one of my favorite stories ever, about The 1914 Christmas Game. This story tells about the ceasefire, that was held at various spots on the Western Front, between the British and German troops in WWI. Soldiers sang, exchanged gifts, and even played football. For me, this is one of the most hopeful counts of humanity and demonstrates the power of sport to bring us together even during one of the darkest times in history. Similarly, I wanted to pay tribute to the original GOAT, Pele. He himself is also credited with being responsible for a ceasefire during the Nigerian Civil War. In 1969 Pele played in an exhibition match in Lagos, Nigeria and there was a 48-hour ceasefire achieved so that both sides could watch Pele play.
I made this painting as a reminder to myself that, as alone as I may sometimes feel, there will always be ways to find connection, and there will always be things that unite us.
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