Francesca Schiavone

Born in Milan on June 23, 1980, her professional career started in 1998 with an Italian Under-18 title, but her international fame truly began in 2001 when she ranked in the top 50 players in the world. She made her national team debut in the Fed Cup in 2002. Here is a look at some of her impressive track record: winner of Roland Garros in 2010 and finalist in 2011; Fed Cup winner in 2006, 2009, and 2010 with Italy; 15 WTA wins in singles and doubles competitions; fourth in the WTA rankings in January 2011; winner of the longest match in women’s tennis history (4 hours and 44 minutes) at the Australian Open against Svetlana Kuznecova in 2011, which sent her to the quarter finals; and during her career, she trained Carolina Wozniacki and Petra Martic. Today she dedicates her time to Schiavone Team Lab, which is aimed at young talents. She won the Roland Garros Legends in 2022, was a finalist at the Wimbledon Legends that same year, and was awarded Roland Garros Legends in 2023. In 2020 Mondadori published her book “La mia rinascita” (“My Renaissance”), in which she recounts how she faced the most difficult match of her life: being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Javier Zanetti

Javier Adelmar Zanetti was born in Buenos Aires on August 10, 1973. He made his professional soccer debut in 1991 in the youth squad of Talleres de Remedios de Escalada. The following year he moved up to the first team. In 1993 he landed in the top league, at Banfield, with whom he plays 37 games, scoring one goal. After another season with the Argentine club, he was purchased by Massimo Moratti’s Inter Milan. His Italian debut took place in 1995. After the retirement of Giuseppe Bergomi in 1999, Javier Zanetti became the team captain and a legend began. As the leader of the nerazzurri, he starred in some of the most successful seasons in soccer history. He won the Triplete in 2010 with victories in the domestic league, Coppa Italia, and Champions League. In the same year, Inter won the Club World Cup Championship with a 3-0 victory over Mazembe. He won two UEFA Cups, in 1997 and 1998. He won the Serie A from 2005 to 2010. He won 4 Coppa Italia, in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011. With the Argentina national team, he won the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. In 2004 and 2007, the Argentines placed second in the Copa America. His Argentine side also came in second in the Confederations Cup in 1995 and 2005. An example of style, success, professionalism, reliability, and fairness on and off the professional pitch, Javier Zanetti is admired and respected throughout the entire soccer world, as he embodies values like commitment, trustworthiness, leadership, sacrifice, success, and teamwork. Javier Zanetti is deeply involved in charity work, with a particular focus on the support and education of less-fortunate children. Since 2001, he has been working with the PUPI Foundation, which he founded with his wife Paula to try and protect the rights of children and adolescents. Today he holds the role of Vice President of Inter Milan and is a member of the FIFA Competition Organizing Committee. He has been involved in the writing of success books like “Giocare da uomo” (“Playing Like A Man”) and “Vincere, ma non solo” (“Not Only Winning”), which were both published by Mondadori.