With the support of the UEFA Foundation for Children, Mastercard has announced the launch of a new fundraising campaign supporting Save the Children.

The campaign aims to use sports, including football, and educational activities to help children in poverty realise their potential.

Lionel Messi will be joined by top footballers from the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain in the campaign, reflecting on the opportunities they have had thanks to football, that other children were not afforded.

Commenting on the campaign, UEFA Foundation for Children general secretary, Urs Kluser, said: This generous support from Mastercard will make a big difference for the beneficiaries of this programme.

“It will allow more children in need to grow up healthy, to have access to education and sport, and get a chance for a better future,” he said.

Mastercard Europe senior vice president for marketing and communications, Jeanette Liendo, added: “It is vitally important to us that our technology and networks power sustainable impact.

“We are proud of this initiative and hope it, and our outstanding ambassadors, will enable the right resources so that child can reach for the stars,” she said.

Save the Children Italy marketing and fundraising director, Giancarlo Pancione, added: “The number of children and adolescents in poverty throughout Europe dramatically rose in the last decade.

“This amplifies educational inequalities and penalizes the future of the most disadvantaged girls, boys and teenagers, who are paying the heaviest price.

This partnership is a way of joining forces and putting our best resources at their service, in order to fulfil their potential and build a brighter future,” he said.

The UK’s Jordan Henderson, Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, and Spain’s Alvaro Morata will head campaign in their home countries.

The campaign has been announced after UEFA created the Ukrainian Relief Fund in June to support Ukrainian affected by the conflict in their country.