Spanish football legend Óscar de Marcos receives Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour España
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Óscar de Marcos, the legendary Athletic Club Bilbao defender, has been announced as the fifth recipient of the Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour España at the 2024/25 MARCA Sports Awards.
The 36-year-old made 435 appearances for the Basque side, captaining them to a Europa League semi-final earlier this year. He also led them to a first Copa del Rey title in 40 years in 2024. His commitment to humanitarian and social issues has taken him across the world, engaging in extensive charity work in South America and Africa.
In 2019, de Marcos’ book, Togo, was published in collaboration with the Athletic Club Foundation. Copies of the book – which was inspired by his visit to the West African country – were distributed for free to schools and local clubs. He frequently visits local children’s hospitals and often offers support to Athletic Club fans in the community.
“Sport is a very quick way to get through to people,” explained de Marcos, who received his honour from Luís Figo, a Member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and Laureus Ambassador Almudena Fernández. “Because I’m a football player, I can help simply by showing up, by giving a pat on the back to someone who needs it. We can help in many ways, and I think we have an obligation to do so.”
In 2019, de Marcos’ book, Togo, was published in collaboration with the Athletic Club Foundation. Copies of the book – which was inspired by his visit to the West African country – were distributed for free to schools and local clubs. He frequently visits local children’s hospitals and often offers support to Athletic Club fans in the community.
“Sport is a very quick way to get through to people,” explained de Marcos, who received his honour from Luís Figo, a Member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and Laureus Ambassador Almudena Fernández. “Because I’m a football player, I can help simply by showing up, by giving a pat on the back to someone who needs it. We can help in many ways, and I think we have an obligation to do so.”
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Although de Marcos did not begin his football journey at the club’s renowned academy at Lezama, he quickly embraced the city’s unique football culture. Fielding only players with a familial connection to the Basque Country, Athletic Club is an important social institution within the city of Bilbao.
“When I came to Athletic I realised that as a person, I was so well known in Bilbao that it had a huge impact,” said de Marcos. “Athletic elevates you, makes you able to reach people, to improve the world – and I’ve always tried to do that.”
As part of the Honour, a donation will be made to Fútbol Más – one of the programmes supported by Laureus Sport for Good España – an organisation that aims to improve lives in Africa, Europe and Latin America through sport and community empowerment.
Laureus Academy Member Luís Figo said: “The example set by Óscar de Marcos is one we should celebrate and amplify so that athletes all over the world can see how they can use their influence and their platform to change the world around them. Óscar is beloved in the Bilbao region not just because of what he did on the football pitch, but for the authenticity with which he engages with those in need, whether that’s in their city or further afield, in South America and Africa. They are rightly proud of their captain and Laureus and MARCA are proud to recognise his humanitarian work with the Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour España.”
Almudena Fernández, Laureus Ambassador and co-founder of Kind Surf, said: “Congratulations to Óscar, not only for his achievements on the pitch, but for the legacy he left outside of football, giving back to those in need and using his platform to change the world for the better. He’s a man with a huge heart and he is a wonderful example to encourage other athletes to use their influence to give back. A worthy recipient of this year’s Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour.”
“When I came to Athletic I realised that as a person, I was so well known in Bilbao that it had a huge impact,” said de Marcos. “Athletic elevates you, makes you able to reach people, to improve the world – and I’ve always tried to do that.”
As part of the Honour, a donation will be made to Fútbol Más – one of the programmes supported by Laureus Sport for Good España – an organisation that aims to improve lives in Africa, Europe and Latin America through sport and community empowerment.
Laureus Academy Member Luís Figo said: “The example set by Óscar de Marcos is one we should celebrate and amplify so that athletes all over the world can see how they can use their influence and their platform to change the world around them. Óscar is beloved in the Bilbao region not just because of what he did on the football pitch, but for the authenticity with which he engages with those in need, whether that’s in their city or further afield, in South America and Africa. They are rightly proud of their captain and Laureus and MARCA are proud to recognise his humanitarian work with the Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour España.”
Almudena Fernández, Laureus Ambassador and co-founder of Kind Surf, said: “Congratulations to Óscar, not only for his achievements on the pitch, but for the legacy he left outside of football, giving back to those in need and using his platform to change the world for the better. He’s a man with a huge heart and he is a wonderful example to encourage other athletes to use their influence to give back. A worthy recipient of this year’s Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour.”
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Now in its fifth year, the Laureus MARCA Sport for Good Honour España recognises the longstanding connection between leading Spanish media house MARCA and Laureus Sport for Good. Last year, Kind Surf, a surfing project spearheaded by model and eco-activist Almudena Fernández, picked up the honour.
The inaugural recipients, in 2021, were the basketball brothers Pau and Marc Gasol, both of whom played in the NBA and were world champions with Spain, and who were recognised for their fight against childhood obesity through the work of the Gasol Foundation. The following year, Olympic triple jumper Ana Peleteiro and the Aldaba Foundation were honoured for using sport to battle gender-based violence in Africa. In 2023 the honour went to Saúl Craviotto, the double Olympic sprint kayak champion
Laureus Sport for Good has supported over 300 programmes in more than 40 countries since 2000.
The inaugural recipients, in 2021, were the basketball brothers Pau and Marc Gasol, both of whom played in the NBA and were world champions with Spain, and who were recognised for their fight against childhood obesity through the work of the Gasol Foundation. The following year, Olympic triple jumper Ana Peleteiro and the Aldaba Foundation were honoured for using sport to battle gender-based violence in Africa. In 2023 the honour went to Saúl Craviotto, the double Olympic sprint kayak champion
Laureus Sport for Good has supported over 300 programmes in more than 40 countries since 2000.
