Mariano Rajoy presents Great Cross of Order of Sporting Merit to Iker Casillas

2015.11.10

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Moncloa Palace, Madrid

In his speech, President of the Government Rajoy highlighted the impeccable sporting career of Iker Casillas, both at Real Madrid and for the Spanish national football side. He stated that "he is one of the athletes to have won the most trophies and one of the most loved in the history of Spanish sport". At present he plays for Porto, but "his life has always been linked to Real Madrid and to the Spanish national side". In this regard, he recalled that Iker Casillas played more than 900 matches as a professional footballer and has been capped on more than 160 occasions as a member of the Spanish national team.

And, Iker Casillas, "in addition to being a great athlete, is also very committed to social causes", he added. In this regard, he recalled that he was appointed as a UN Goodwill Ambassador in 2011 and that he also set up the Iker Casillas Foundation, "a not-for-profit entity to support and contribute to the well-being of the most needy".

The current Porto goalkeeper has also collaborated with other social bodies such as the Real Madrid Foundation and the Tomillo Foundation, and has also taken part in food collection campaigns, the fight against the school bullying and the insertion of young people at the risk of social exclusion.