'Grassroots football is too important': Inside the Gatorade 5v5 Global Finals - a platform for young players on their way to the top

Thailand take the lead with an early goal on the counterattack immediately after Honduras have hit the post. The Latin American side equalise right before half-time though and the match ends 1-1. A penalty shootout is needed.

As well as the prestige of winning a global tournament, there is an added incentive for the four finalists: the winners will go to the Champions League final.

The goalkeeper’s prayers are answered as he makes two saves in the shootout. His team-mates think they have won after his second save but the referee informs them they have one more penalty to take, and it is the goalkeeper who must take it.

Both sets of teams huddle together, and the goalkeeper, still wearing his gloves, steps up. When the ball hits the net there is an eruption of joy from his team-mates. The Thailand players sink to the floor. 

The girls' final is played immediately after and Club De Lo Prado from Chile are crowned champions after beating a team from Venezuela, also coming from behind in the final to win.

With such emotion on display, it is little wonder that Mark Kirkham, PepsiCo's Chief Marketing Officer, calls the tournament “one of the most special things we do”.

The tournament began in Latin America in 2015 and was brought to Europe for the first time in 2016, coinciding with the Champions League final in Milan.

The Finals have followed football’s biggest match around since, and in 2019 a total of 56,000 children participated in the event from local level all the way to the finals. The only exceptions were the 2020 and 2021 finals due to coronavirus restrictions.

“Covid had a negative effect but we never wanted to let it go, grassroots football is too important,” Kirkham adds. “We don't even sell Gatorade in Turkey but it doesn't matter, what's important is that Gatorade is creating opportunities for these kids.”

Kirkham has just addressed the young footballers alongside Andriy Shevchenko, a Champions League winner in 2003 with AC Milan and former Ballon d’Or Winner.

Shevchenko, who says playing in youth tournaments was a crucial part of his journey to becoming a professional footballer, was appointed as a 'confidence coach' and gave a passionate team talk to inspire the young players.

Shevchenko played for some of the most renowned coaches in football including Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho. But he named Valeriy Lobanovskyi, his former boss at Dynamo Kyiv, as his most inspiring coach.

"He’s a legend for Ukraine and a legend in world football. He brought discipline to my life, helping me understand that I am a role model, football players are very important figures in society. I understand the responsibility not only for myself, but the image for the country and the club," Shevchenko said.

The former striker also gave insight into why Ancelotti, who has won a record four Champions League titles, including the 2003 title with AC Milan alongside Shevchenko, has been so successful.

“Carlo Ancelotti is just a very nice and inspiring person. He is very charismatic and has a great relationship with the players, he’s amazing in the dressing room and creates a very good environment and chemistry with the team," he said.

"I learnt a lot about his style in dealing with the staff and how he motivated the players. Sometimes his role was to calm the players in a very difficult emotional moment, he’s a great human being and a great coach."

As he watches the teenagers compete, Shevchenko is reminded of the youth tournaments he played in while growing up in Ukraine and aspiring to be a footballer.

"The competition means a lot. When I was growing up I always loved football, I grew [as a player] thanks to some similar tournaments," he told GOAL. "I was growing up in Ukraine and had a school tournament. I played for my school. This kind of opportunity was awesome. We could see potential players come out from this tournament.”

Shevchenko is right, and if previous years are anything to go by, he could well be looking at future stars of the game. A whole host of players have gone on to great things in men's and women's soccer after participating in Gatorade 5v5.

Goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo and midfielder Ilana Izquierdo have gone on to play for Colombia's senior team and have the chance to go to the Women's World Cup this summer. Mariana Zamorano plays for Colombian giants America de Cali along with Giraldo.

Alejandra Vanegas plays at college level in the US with the University of Central Arkansas. Juan Camilo Asprilla has represented Colombia's men's team at under-17 level.

Two players have gone on to thrive in futsal (indoor football): Harrison Santos plays for FC Barcelona while Simon Zapata is a Colombia international.

Kirkham highlights two players from the 2019 tournament in Madrid. Gisela Robledo won the girls' tournament with Colombia that year and now plays for Tenerife in Spain’s top women’s division, Liga F. She is also a Colombia international and last year helped her nation reach the quarter-finals of the under-20 World Cup.

“She was passionate, powerful, just a great footballer,” Kirkham recalls. “She was playing at under-16 national level at the time. She comes in, they win the final. She was such a great personality, we put her in an advert called Go Camp, where she was one of the young talents, making her way up and being recognised by Messi.” 

Then there is Dani Zabala of Argentina, who also came through the programme in 2019. Along with Robledo, he was profiled in Cantera 5v5, a documentary following the progress of five players from local tournaments to the finals in Madrid. Robledo lost his brother to gang violence but he was determined to steer clear of trouble and make his way in football.

In April he signed a professional contract with Buenos Aires giants River Plate. “Stories like that you just can't make up," says Kirkham. "It's amazing."

While some players might hope to follow Robledo and Zabala’s footsteps, for others just being part of the tournament is enough.

"Oh my God. To see some of the quality of some of these kids they will be inspired and they'll inspire other kids," Kirkham adds. "For some of these guys flying from the UAE, Asia and Latin America, just to be here.. ultimately they want to win, but the experience... if you follow the hashtag Gatorade 5v5, it goes on all year. 

"The kids who come here and play, they continue the dialogue and the conversation. They build friendships they break down barriers, language barriers and social barriers.

“People say music is an international language, football absolutely is. You see it every four years in the World Cup and you see it here.”