Heroes & Humans of Football

Megan Rapinoe is one of soccer’s most talented players, yet has an influence and legacy that extends far beyond the pitch. How did one American sportswoman become such a central figure in conversations about homophobia, feminism, and racism?  This episode tracks Rapinoe’s life, from growing up in a relatively poor working-class background to becoming the GOAT of women’s soccer. Mehreen and Simon examine how witnessing severe drug abuse and her family upbringing shaped her understanding of privilege and injustice. This episode unpicks the polarising views of Megan, which are often at the centre of wider cultural wars. The episode discusses Rapinoe being the first top soccer player to come out (which was actually not too controversial), to being one of the first sportspeople to take the knee in 2016 (which was). On one hand, Rapinoe is hated by president Donald Trump (“Woke equals failure”) and was once called the “most annoying sportsperson ever” by Piers Morgan. On the other hand, she is celebrated as a figure with a strong moral compass – standing up for injustices, unfair pay, and archaic power structures. Is Rapinoe the new model for the next generation of sports stars? Or should politics be kept off the pitch?  Time stamps: 0:36: Introduction  4:43: A child of Trump’s America  9:45: A growing childhood interest in soccer 11:42: Recognising privilege and witnessing fentanyl addiction  17:17: College scholarship and move to Oregon 20:25: Discovering her sexuality 25:59: A poorly-paid pro, viral moments, and coming out 29:45: Intersectionality, homophobia, and equal pay 33:23: Racism and taking the knee in 2016  38:39: Trump vs. Rapinoe (with a father that votes for him) 44:27: Class action lawsuit for equal pay 47:10: Rapinoe’s legacy  JOIN THE HEROES AND HUMANS SUPPORTERS CLUB! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fanpatreon.com/heroesandhumans [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates http://heroesandhumans.com/heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

No footballer in history has had a career at the top for as long as Cristiano Ronaldo. Nearing his 40th birthday, when will it be time for Ronaldo to finally retire? And will he bow out gracefully—or cry? This is the second and final episode on Cristiano Ronaldo. Simon and Mehreen track Ronaldo’s life from 2009 onwards, detailing his transition to family man, his atmospheric rise on social media, and his footballing career after Manchester United. This episode covers Ronaldo’s rivalry with Messi, his fear of decline and irrelevancy, and his dedication to football at every stage—whether it’s the Euros or in the Saudi league. Is it because of Ronaldo that football has reached a fetishisation of high performance? This is the finale of the highest-paid athlete on earth who rose from nothing—a person who embodies hustle culture but whose self importance is so grandiose one can’t help but mock it. Time stamps: 0:36: Ronaldo joins Real Madrid 5:05: Rivalry with Messi 9:11: Perfect life, perfect child, perfect wife? 17:01: Global icon and social media superstar 22:41: Euro 2016 29:13: Manchester United and Juventus 34:28: Humiliation and personal tragedy 37:55: Joining the Saudi pro league 41:36: Decline in the Portuguese national team 44:11: GOAT status or pipped to the post? 49:17: The Muslim conspiracy and ongoing legacy JOIN THE HEROES AND HUMANS SUPPORTERS CLUB! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Vain, disciplined, consistent: Cristiano Ronaldo is a football legend like no other. How did this hyper-athletic, prone-to-cry Portuguese player become such a dominant force—not only in football but on the world stage? This episode is the first of two on the legendary football player and covers Ronaldo’s early life. The episode chronicles Ronaldo’s childhood, growing up as an unwanted child in relative poverty in Madeira, and his move to the Portuguese mainland, where he became determined to work harder, better, and faster than everyone else. Simon and Mehreen paint a picture of Ronaldo’s ascent to international fame and superstardom, giving insight into his relationship with Alex Ferguson and Ronaldo’s tendency to always be an individual rather than a team player. This is the first part of a story of the man who takes himself so seriously he has become a meme—and how his egocentric, strict discipline and routine helped to propel him to the top. *Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assault allegations, marked in the timestamps* Time stamps: 0:36: Introduction and stats 4:01: Growing up in poverty in Madeira 9:22: Arrival to the mainland and showing fierce discipline 15:13: Youth career and rising competition for fame 20:40: Arrival at Manchester United  26:36: UEFA 2004 and a teenager’s determination for greatness 30:20: Controversies and acclaim at Manchester United  39:00: Ronaldo’s first Ballon D’Or (but not the last) 46:22: Alex Ferguson’s infantilisation of Ronaldo at Manchester United 50:25: Sexual assault allegations in Las Vegas *TW: contains mentions of alleged sexual violence that some listeners may find upsetting* 56:12: Wrap up and look towards part two JOIN THE HEROES AND HUMANS SUPPORTERS CLUB! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Paul Labile Pogba is, according to host Simon, one of the most gifted players of all time. How did an international, record-breaking superstar become embroiled in a mess of conspiracy, extortion and doping bans? And will we see a comeback for Pogba in 2025? This episode covers Pogba’s life and career, from growing up in France and flying under the radar at Manchester United to a rise to dominance at Juventus and becoming the ‘Churchillian leader’ of the French National Team.  An incredibly gifted player whose play style can dominate all parts of the pitch, Simon and Mehreen also cover the dark downfall of Pogba’s late 20s. In Shakespearean fashion, Pogba's brother betrayed him (including a bizarre West African witch doctor story), only for him to fail a doping test after his comeback. Will one of football’s most interesting main characters be able to take the centre stage ever again? Returning to football aged 32, will Pogba see a redemption, or is it all over for this tragic hero? And what hairstyle will we see next? Time stamps: 0:36: Introduction and stats 3:31: Growing up and finding religion 9:02: Underestimated at Manchester United (and fights with Ferguson) 14:22: Success at Juventus 20:20: Dreams of total dominance 25:58: A leader is born 31:20: Racism and the ‘Karen’ of football 36:39: Complacency at Manchester United 39:09: Betrayal by his brother 46:28: The witch doctor conspiracy 40:28: Doping ban  52:08: Pogba’s legacy and future JOIN THE HEROES AND HUMANS SUPPORTERS CLUB! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

By his late-20s, superstar footballer Maradona had it all: copious wealth and record-breaking transfer fees, a rockstar lifestyle, and a glittering presence at the World Cup. So what soured? This is the tragic tale of Diego Maradona, from his late 20s until his death in 2020 at just 60 years old. This is the story of Maradona’s decades-long decline, from being (briefly) hated in Italy and failing drug tests on the international stage to unsuccessful tenures as a football manager. Simon and Mehreen chronicle Maradona’s later years, including sought-after peace in the United Arab Emirates and constant returns to his country of Argentina. They reflect on Maradona’s legacy among the greats, and Simon gives his own insights into meeting Maradona—the polite man who often seemed a ‘performing seal’. Above all, this episode covers Maradona’s intrinsic links to Argentina—the country that both revered and celebrated him but may also have been the cause of his demise. The episode paints a picture of Maradona as a resistance hero, a victim of racism, and a person who lived under the pressures of both extreme fame and famine. This is the second part of a two-part podcast. Listen to ‘Maradona: From the slum to world champion’ before this one.  Time stamps: 1:44: The Napoli ‘cult’ starts to sour 6:57: The most hated man in Italy (briefly) 9:07: World Cups and failed drug tests 16:54: Simon meets Maradona 20:58: The ‘little man’ worldview of Argentinian politics and race 30:41: Maradona becomes the Argentine football manager 36:42: Move to the UAE—peace at last 43:25: Back in Argentina, and fatal heart attack 49:09: Maradona’s legacy JOIN THE HEROES AND HUMANS SUPPORTERS CLUB! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]