Mastercard and Pele Unify UEFA Champions League fans to #StartSomethingPriceless

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With over 70 different nationalities gracing the field in this season’s UEFA Champions League, Mastercard has teamed up with the world’s greatest player - Pele - to celebrate the unifying power of football and the moments that have Started Something Priceless in the history of the world’s premier club competition.

As an Official Sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, Mastercard has launched 22 Languages, a short-film which sees 22 football fans from around the world come together to play a match and compete for 11 UEFA Champions League tickets. With barriers down and stakes high, the intense match can only have one winning team but after heading back to the locker room post-match, all players are gifted with the same truly priceless moment – lifting the trophy with none other than Pelé.

“Football is a unifying force across the world and there is no better example of this than the UEFA Champions League,” said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer at Mastercard. “Our #StartSomethingPriceless campaign is about supporting one another to inspire change and the UEFA Champions League is truly unique in traversing borders and transforming the lives of both players and fans.”

The 22 Languages film marks the latest reiteration in Mastercard’s #StartSomethingPriceless campaign which is designed to inspire people to pursue a passion and transform small moments into amazing memories. As a football icon who followed his passion to become the world’s greatest player, Pelé has identified three UEFA Champions League occasions that have unified the footballing world, empowered change and started something priceless happening.

“I remember when I got a crucial message from my father when I was young ‘you are going to be a very good footballer, but most importantly you have to be a good person and a good man’ and those words have always stuck with me,” said Pelé, who scored 1,283 first-class goals throughout his career. "While we all love the competition that comes with sport, it's more important what we do as people on and off the field. Football is a great unifier and these UEFA Champions League moments truly capture the #StartSomethingPriceless sentiment."

Pelé’s top three UEFA Champions League moments that Started Something Priceless

1. ABIDAL LIFTS TROPHY: Cancer survivor Éric Abidal given the honour of lifting UEFA Champions League Trophy for FC Barcelona

2. KAHN CONSOLES CAÑIZARES: Kahn (Bayern Munich) chooses consolation over celebration as he comforts Cañizares (Valencia) after losing the UEFA Champions League

3. REDS RESPECT FOR RONALDO: Manchester United fans recognize ‘Talent over Team’ giving Ronaldo (Brazil & Real Madrid) a lengthy standing ovation following winning hat trick

About Mastercard

Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.  Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.  Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.