“Football is the art of compressing universal history into ninety minutes,” suggested George Bernard Shaw, the Irish writer and Nobel laureate. There are novels whose pages are not inked, but instead imbued with the emotions an entire nation lays upon the pitch: epic narratives that, every four years, abandon the page to unfold on grass, inspiring individuals and entire peoples alike.

In truth, the World Cup has never been merely a sporting competition. It has always stood as one of the most expansive forms of collective, performative art on the planet: a global rite capable of turning goals into iconography and ninety minutes into shared memory: into universal history. With the 2026 World Cup entering its climactic phase, we set out to explore its impact and its lyrical essence through the voices of international artists. Creative minds who have chosen football as their muse.

‘Football Mundi’ is an inquiry into how the Beautiful Game shapes our collective imagination, becoming an emotional language that dissolves borders and connects identities, especially in the context of a World Cup.

Today’s guest, from Spain: Rafael Sakta. 

What role did football play in your childhood, and what first made you fall in love with the game?

“Thanks to my Spanish roots, football has been a constant in my life, directly or indirectly, for as long as I can remember. Even though my family weren’t particularly big fans, I started getting into it on my own. Several vivid memories stand out. I’ll never forget carrying around my bootleg Nike Joga Bonito DVD just to watch it with my friend Franz. Or the endless attempts to trade my best Real Madrid sticker for a Ronaldinho or a Puyol. Then there was playing for hours in the village square with my blue and yellow Total 90 ball. Football has always been a fixed point for me, I think what really made me fall in love with the game was the imagery it exudes. Its connection and influence on the worlds of fashion, media, and video games. The sense of iconography that football lends to everything in its orbit is what fascinates me, and it’s something that has stayed with me throughout my entire childhood.”

How has the Beautiful Game shaped your artistic evolution, and why did you choose to make it a central muse in your work?

“I think it all came together very naturally. Football has been a constant through every stage of my life, and my artistic path has evolved in tandem with that passion. I always say that the main driving force behind my artistic work is everything I consider ‘cool.’ The way football bridges different worlds, from pop culture to fashion, makes it a natural source of inspiration for me. Not just the game itself, but everything that revolves around it. It could be a retro kit that catches my eye, a photo of a player with an iconic look, a FIFA Street illustration, or even a team mascot. So many of my interests are rooted in this universe, making football a vital part of my creative DNA.”

As we approach the final stages of the World Cup, what emotions, memories, and reflections surface when you think of football’s ultimate global stage?

“The first memory that springs to mind is how I experienced the 2024 European Championship. After so many disappointments, Spain finally started thrilling everyone again with their style of play. I wasn’t expecting such an extraordinary performance at all; the emotional impact was very strong. I won’t easily forget the tension I felt before every single match, nor how emotionally drained I was after the final victory. Watching players like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Rodri made me relive those same emotions I’d felt years earlier watching Zizou eliminate my own national team. These feelings and memories show just how important football can be, both personally and culturally, for any young person. The sequence of passes leading up to Iniesta’s goal in the 2010 South Africa final remains indelible. I hope this World Cup gives us more moments so significant that they will remain etched in our minds forever.”

If you had to choose one of your works to capture the power of a global and social event like the World Cup, which would it be, and why?

“I think I’d choose Zinédine Zidane’s header from the 1998 World Cup: it embodies so many elements that I love and find inspiring. France’s iconic number 10 shirt. The legendary Brazilian national team being defeated by the host nation. A ‘Juventus-era’ Zizou, at the peak of his career, scoring a brace. I feel like the World Cup is a competition that, in one way or another, radiates an aura of mysticism that club football simply can’t replicate. With this piece, by playing with perspective, I tried to capture that sense of sacredness the pitch evokes, giving the game of football an almost divine dimension.”

At a time when the boundaries between art and football are becoming increasingly fluid, how do you hope this relationship will evolve?

“The more I delve into the intersection of art and soccer, the more I realize just how strong and organic their bond is becoming, to the point where it has evolved into a fundamental aspect of modern soccer culture. Creativity permeates every aspect of the sport today: the market is flooded with collaborations, away jerseys are often more striking than home ones, and fake replicas generate incredible hype thanks to their wild and daring designs. Even the buildup to the next World Cup kit reveals has become an artistic event in itself. I see this blending in the illustration world too: it’s amazing to see how deeply our passion has penetrated this industry. In an era where AI is increasingly prevalent, I believe our mission as artists is to keep the relationship between art and football as human as possible. True football is played with your feet and your heart, not with prompts and algorithms.”

PENALTY KICKS 

Which footballer most inspired your imagination during a World Cup?

“Several. The first two are definitely Zidane and Maradona. Then there’s Ronaldo and his haircut in the 2-0 final win against Germany in 2002. Also, Xavi Hernández and David Villa in South Africa 2010. And more recently, the already legendary duel between Messi and Mbappé in 2022.”

What is the most creative World Cup kit you’ve seen?

“Definitely the Spain and Germany kits from 1994. From 1998, I have vivid memories of the France, Mexico, and Japan jerseys. Honorable mention goes to the Nigeria kit from 2018.”

What is the most artistic gesture or moment you’ve witnessed in a World Cup match?

“Mano de Dios, Ronaldo’s haircut in 2002, and Zidane’s headbutt: these are artistic moments that will live in history forever.”

What is the most iconic World Cup match you’ve watched?

“The 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. I watched the match in France, but I was rooting for Argentina. A total thriller.”

What is the most powerful shared moment you’ve experienced at a World Cup?

“The entire 2010 World Cup. I was 15 at the time; seeing my country win the tournament while surrounded by my friends is a memory I hold very dear.”