Duncan Watmore swaps pitch for podium with UN General Assembly address

Former Premier League forward takes to UNGA stage

Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough striker Duncan Watmore has swapped the matchday dressing room for international diplomacy after addressing delegates at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The 32-year-old took to the stage during Global Health Futures Day to argue that lessons learned from elite athletic performance should be used to improve everyday public health. Speaking in front of global leaders and delegates, Watmore drew on a career that saw him score three times in the Premier League during his time with Sunderland.

A footballer with a first-class mind

Watmore is no ordinary ex-pro. He completed a first-class economics degree and a masters while making 336 appearances across his 15-year professional career, and he is now head of elite performance at wellbeing firm PEAK4.

“Using the power of football, and sport more broadly, to help make the world a better place is something I've always been incredibly passionate about,” said the former England Under-21 international. “To be able to speak about that on a stage like UNGA was a real privilege.”

Illustrious footsteps

While he may seem a surprise figure in the halls of global diplomacy, Watmore has followed in some illustrious footsteps. Pele, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Kaka have previously addressed the General Assembly in ambassadorial roles, while 1995 Ballon d'Or winner George Weah took to the podium as President of Liberia.

Other icons, including Lionel Messi, Brazil's Marta, Ronaldo, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, have also championed humanitarian, equal pay and development causes around UNGA summits, cementing sport's place on the world's biggest diplomatic stage.