June 11th will mark the beginning of the 2026 World Cup and FIFA’s largest tournament in history. For 39 days, 104 matches will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Each match will reach an average global audience of about 175 million people per match.
Its most popular players, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have a monumental fanbase. But these soccer players aren’t just inspiring us on the field; they’re also embracing the importance of fatherhood.
Here are seven World Cup dads who are showing us the importance of fatherhood and family.
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is one of the most famous names in soccer, and this year he’s playing a historic sixth time at the World Cup. In 2022, after captaining Argentina to victory at the FIFA World Cup, he spoke about how fatherhood changed how he plays.
“From the very beginning, from kick-off to the final whistle, I’m thinking of my children,” he said. “They’re growing older. They understand better what’s going on and they enjoy it more.”
Speaking about how fatherhood changed him, he told FC Barcelona,
“You gather experience in all aspects of life, on and off the field. But, as a human being, having three children changed my perspective on life, my way of thinking, and it also helped me grow.”
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is another name that’s synonymous with soccer. With over 900 career goals, he’s dominated the sport. This year, he’s matching Messi’s record by also preparing to play in his sixth World Cup. Amongst all his successes, Ronaldo continues to promote fatherhood and how he puts his family first.
Ronaldo shares his love for parenthood in an interview:
“Becoming a parent and raising my family is honestly the greatest privilege I’ve had. I’m enjoying every second of it,” said Ronaldo.
“It’s taught me things about love I never knew existed. It has softened me and given me new perspective on what is really important in my life.”
3. Harry Kane
Harry Kane is England’s all-time leading goal scorer and captain of the England national team. Kane married his childhood sweetheart, Kate, and together they have four children.
Kane showed you can build a family while becoming one of the world’s best soccer players. In an interview, he talked about how fatherhood and family shape his priorities:
“Being a dad and a husband is the most important part of my life,” he says.
4. Tyler Adams
U.S. men’s national soccer player, Tyler Adams, opened up recently about how fatherhood has changed the way he plays. In 2022, Adams became the youngest U.S. captain at the tournament since 1950. Since having kids, he’s handled the pressure differently because his perspective has shifted.
“When you come home, and you have a bad day or an amazing day, your kids don’t ask you how soccer was,” Adams tells PEOPLE. “You come home, and they’re saying, ‘Let’s go for a bike ride or let’s go outside and play.’”
Fatherhood has helped him to separate the field from his home life, and his two sons keep him grounded.
5. Neymar Jr.
To most, he’s a soccer legend and Brazil’s highest scorer, but to three beautiful children, he’s also “dad”.
Neymar spoke to a magazine about taking his father’s advice when it comes to being a parent:
“I always look for my father’s advice because he’s a wise person and someone who loves me 100 per cent. It’s easier to be a son; being a father means giving love, teaching, and protecting your son in any way possible. I’m grateful for everything my father did for me, and I try to do everything in double to my son.”
6. Luka Modrić
In 2018, Modric captained Croatia and placed second behind France in the FIFA World Cup.
He’s won awards in soccer, and this year will be his fifth FIFA World Cup to play. But perhaps the most impressive thing about Modric is his story of perseverance. His childhood was spent in the middle of the war in Croatia, where his grandfather was killed, and his family was displaced.
Despite this, he continued, eventually becoming one of the greatest midfielders in history, and a wonderful father to three children.
7. Alisson Becker
Becker is not only the starting goalkeeper for Brazil and Liverpool F.C., but he’s also a man of faith, a husband, and a father to three children.
In a beautiful piece he wrote for The Players’ Tribune, Becker describes how the birth of his son after the tragic loss of his father affected him:
“Three months after my father’s death, my son Rafael was born. For my wife and I, it was like hope was reborn. A light shone in our lives again. His name had a special meaning for us. It comes from the Hebrew, meaning “God has healed.”
To World Cup Dads, and the World Class Dads
From the soccer field to the playground in their backyard, legends like Ronaldo, Messi, Kane, and Modrić are proving that dads can do it all. Their stories remind us that fatherhood doesn’t keep you from pursuing your dreams; it enhances them.
To all the World Cup dads, and the world-class dads out there, you matter.
At Save the Storks, we believe fathers play a vital role in helping women choose life and supporting families as they grow. Join us in encouraging and equipping mothers and fathers with the compassionate care, resources, and support they need to thrive.
