Sampdoria and Norway international midfielder Morten Thorsby has won the FIFPRO Merit Award for his climate activism.
The player has been granted the 2021 Player Activism award for his campaign to raise awareness about minimising the effects of climate change.
As part of the award, Thorsby will receive $10,000 to help finance his activities.
Thorsby won the vote in a special selection committee, beating the likes of Tim Sparv of Finland and Tunisia’s Yohan Benalouane.
Thorsby changed his shirt number at Sampdoria to 2 in order to highlight the target maximum rate of increase in global warming.
He launched the We Play Green foundation, trying to make players and clubs more sustainable and ecologically-conscious in their choices, especially when travelling regularly.
“It is very surprising. I am very happy of course winning this prize. Looking at the people who before me won this award, I am really proud,” Thorsby told FIFPRO.
“These are people who made a great effort, people I look up to. It makes me really motivated and inspired to continue my work for We Play Green, to make sure the planet will live on and will be in good shape for our children and our grandchildren.”