Discover how Mathys Lefebvre is using his power as a midfielder and EcoAthlete Champion to score lasting impact for Team Ocean.
Q: What inspired you to pursue soccer, and how has it influenced your appreciation for teamwork and community?
A: I have always had a very sporty family. My dad used to play high-level basketball in France, my grandpa was a pro soccer player for a couple of years and my grandma knows more about soccer than I do. So, naturally, I started playing with friends from school, then clubs … and at some point, I understood that this could become my life—more than just a passion—and I decided to dedicate myself to this goal. Obviously, sports have had great educational value for me when it comes to teamwork and community. In soccer, you’re nothing without your team and the players that are around you on the field.
Q: How does playing soccer near coastal areas or in outdoor stadiums deepen your connection to the environment?
A: Truth is, I was raised in Paris, France, so quite far away from any ocean or coastal environment. However, throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from many people in the environmental and sports industry. And I have been quickly convinced that the power of sports should have a greater impact on sustainable practices, including ocean protection. You don’t have to live near a coastal area to connect with the ocean or the environment as a whole. It’s all connected.
Q: Have you had a moment during your career when the beauty or vulnerability of the ocean stood out to you?
A: Definitely my first dive. I could not believe what I had just seen: an entirely different world and ecosystem that was living right under the surface of the ocean. It felt like I knew so little about what is living on our planet!
Q: How do you think the values of soccer—teamwork, strategy and resilience—align with the goals of environmental conservation?
A: I think the values of all sports align with environmental conservation goals. All sports are based on the notion of quick thinking, endurance in multiple forms and teams (for both individual and collective sports). We must all be resilient, think fast and act together to preserve this planet and everything it gives us.
Q: What would you say to your fans, especially younger athletes, about why protecting the ocean is crucial for our future?
A: Well, we need it. The ocean is necessary for the air we breathe. And we must think about future generations in addition to ourselves. For athletes, you must also understand that succeeding on the field comes with off-field responsibilities, whether you are a pro superstar or an amateur athlete. It is your duty to share good values with others; ocean protection is a significant part of it.
Q: If the soccer fields and ocean that have inspired you could leave a message of hope for the world, what do you think it would be?
A: As I often mention in my podcast, sports influence the world—and this influence can be the source of inspiration for taking action every day. There’s always hope in trusting and sharing the good. Just think about how often you have spoken about sports in your life, or have been influenced by sports in the way you dress, the things you watch on TV, the games you’ve been to and the job you might have. Well, I am convinced that when we all apply 1% of these good times to get inspired and discuss how to build an even better future and how we should commonly take action, we will take a significant step forward.
Q: Any personal reflections about why joining the Protect Where We Play movement matters to you as a soccer player?
A: It is part of my responsibility on a very small scale and a very humble level. I am playing sports, I am a living part of this industry, so I must help make it better. Protect Where We Play is a great way to do so.
Join Mathys to #ProtectWhereWePlay, and protecting the ocean and the future of the sports and entertainment we all love.
