For me the things that drive me was definitely the love for the sport, you know, but the most
important one is my family, you know. They're my motivation you know every time I see them
you know, it puts a smile on my face, you know. Obviously, I don't get to see them too often but uh every time they call me
I hear the voice, you know. It motivates me, you know, to keep going and keep going stronger
[Music]
At just 22 years old now, Alphonso Davies is already considered by many
the greatest Canadian soccer player of all time.
Davies was just 15 years old when he began his professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
And not long after, he was putting on a show in Major League Soccer.
[Announcer] And now a chance here for Davies again Mark... and he's able to finish.
The world took notice.
And a few months before his 18th birthday Davies signed with the storied German franchise Bayern Munich.
[Announcer] Brilliant run by Davies, sensational, sensational, sensational.
He is now a bona fide star with one of the biggest teams in the world.
A dream that started as a kid in Edmonton, where his family settled as refugees, after fleeing Civil War in Liberia.
[Music]
Edmonton is where Davies first fell in love with the game and set him on a path to become the face of Canadian soccer.
[Announcer] Alphonso Davies, keeps it himself, Goal! Alphonso Davies, are you kidding me?
[Music]
We have a lot to talk about in terms of what's going on now, but, but I want to go back just for a couple of moments
and ask you first of all about, just your love of soccer
like when you think back to your childhood, did you remember that moment where you thought
I just love this game so much?
Yeah, growing up um, my, my dad played, you know, in Edmonton, for you know a couple years
I mean, it wasn't anything special, but me watching him, growing up, it was it was amazing.
I just try to try to replicate what I'd see and I try to put in my game.
Even at a young age, playing football was just for me, for fun. It was just me being myself
you know, expressing myself, being who I am and and just enjoying the game.
Your parents, their incredible story of being refugees, coming to Canada, having to work really long hours
and, and you put in a position as I understand it, to, to help take care of your siblings at home.
Yeah growing up my parents, uh, they did each work two jobs each, you know, trying, uh, provide for the family.
I had a little brother and a little sister.
Yeah, I mean, changing, changing diapers at, uh, at the age of I think 9, 10 wasn't easy.
You know, myself, I'm a kid as well, so. Yeah.
And once I step on the football pitch, you know, I forget about all that, you know,
I just go out there have fun, you know, just enjoy in every moment that I have to play the, play the sport.
[Music]
[off camera] What is your goal as a player?
My goal as a player, to reach professional level, and probably play with some of the pros.
And then at 14 years old, the Vancouver Whitecaps come calling, and they want you to move to
from Edmonton to Vancouver to be part of their development program
and from what I understand, your mom was reluctant, how did you convince her to let you go?
Yeah when the Vancouver came knocking to the door at 14, you know, it was, it was a tough moment because you know my mom
is very keen on education, you know, obviously I heard my father didn't get the education they always dreamed of
and they wanted their kids to have it as well so she didn't want me to go to Vancouver and change
you know, become something that I'm that I'm not and
you know, I made a promise to her, I promised that I'll be the same you know I'll focus on my studies and
and then, uh, yeah, she let me go, you know, I'm happy that she did.
A lot of people are happy that she did. That was then, and then you walk into Munich
you walk into this training facility, and all the pressures that all of a sudden you had to face at 18 years old, what was that like?
Coming here, I knew that, you know, they had the world-class players on this team.
Players to have won World Cups, multiple Champions Leagues, for me coming in into this team at 18
was just me learning you know to learn from all these guys to learn, you know
how they became, you know, who they are and how they became so good, you know, I
waited for my opportunity, I worked as hard as possible yeah when I got my opportunity, you know
I showed what I, what I could do and, yeah, and it's going pretty well right now.
Looks like you feel like you're home? Yeah, this is this is definitely my home, you know, I feel comfortable here
everyone makes it comfortable, being with each other, it just, uh, is a good vibe
not just on the pitch, off the pitch as well, you know, to have a good connection with each player.
Woooo! With the squad, with the squad, you know what I'm saying, You know the vibes.
[Interviewer] Speaking of good vibes, you become a social media phenomenon
you've got more than 5 million followers on Instagram, more than 6 million on tick tock
it's extraordinary what you do on there, what's your motivation?
I mean for me, it's not really motivation now, it's just, you know, me, being a kid
I guess me showing my my personality, you know, on social media, you know, showing I guess how I am
you know, off the pitch, but other than that it's just authentic, you know, I just
sit on my couch, say something and then I post it, you know, that's how I'm feeling, I guess I just speak my mind.
Turn this thing on.
How old is my soulmate right now? Ooooh.
Hey Google?
Ahh, every day this guy calls my name at least 20 times a day. Yeah, how can I help you can you?
Can you play [singing], can you play that?
Bro, that's not in the song name, like if you're gonna request a song, at least know the damn name. Oh my God, man.
Playing Hard now by NBA Youngboy.
[Music]
You're the guy, you're the guy.
[Music]
The social media version of Alphonso Davies does seem like a fun guy, and and I guess that's what you're really like
but also on, on Twitch, I saw a clip where you, you said you know what, like, you're living a great life it's great to be a professional football player
but at the same time, it's kind of lonely here, you don't have a big group of friends
Yeah, it's nice, you know, to be a professional, to you know, to play the sport I love each and every day
you know, after training I think when you go home, you know, most of the players they have, you know, families
they have kids, they have wives, you know, they have people around them
for me, I can remember myself, you know, I have a couple friends.
I don't really get to see them often but, uh, yeah, you know, sometimes it gets lonely
when you're sitting at home and you're just, you know, thinking to yourself, what is there to do?
I mean I guess it comes, it comes with the job, you know.
We have a lot of positive things to talk about but I want to ask you about one other big challenge and that was the myocarditis
the enlargement of the heart that you got
after you were infected with Covid, that must have been a scary time?
Yeah, that was very scary. I was just doing my time at home, my quarantine
and I got a phone call from the doctor, he was like,
yeah, you have a myocarditis, you know, I didn't know what it was
you know, he explained to me what it was and I was like, okay, so, all right, how long am I gonna be out?
I think that's ,that was a scary, scary thing when he said we don't know.
So, now I'm sitting there thinking to myself, like, you know, my, I was in shock, you know, I didn't believe
that I could be sitting out for one year of football, not playing, um, yeah it was scary, I mean
yeah I'm happy that I was able to be back, you know, in the three months, four months period
and everything's looking good, I'm healthy again, so, I'm happy.
So you missed some games, including, you missed the game where Canada qualified for the World Cup.
Yeah
But you watched it, and we watched you watching it
[Cheering]
[Announcer] This is the moment the country has waited for.
I've dreamed of this moment
my dream's about to come true, dream's gonna come true.
the whole country, everybody on this pitch, everybody in Canada, dream's about to come true bro.
The boys did well man. You guys did so well.
I can't believe this.
[inaudiable]
When I found out that I wasn't able to; you know, be with the team, you know, when they qualify
you know it's a moment that would last forever in everybody's mind, you know, not just the players, you know, the whole country
you know, it was really emotional because we started this journey
I don't know how long ago and we all told ourselves that we want to make it to the World Cup
you know, we know it wasn't going to be an easy road and
yeah I mean that time was, was very emotional for everybody, you know, not just for me you know for the whole
everybody on the on the pitch, and also, I'm sure, some Canadian fans as well
And now just at 22 years old, you are one of the leaders of the team
you know your teammates, an entire country is going to be looking at you for leadership in what's going to be a tough qualifying round.
How are you feeling about that?
It's going to mean a lot, you know, stepping on the pitch, you know, uh, in the World Cup
you know, as every, every kid's dream, every footballer's dream.
It is truly incredible, you know, not just for me, for the players that is on the team, and also, a whole country as well
you know, 36 years a long time
and uh, yeah, our first one, we want to make it as memorable as possible
For most players, it's their first, and uh, yeah, we're all we're all looking forward to it.
Yeah, one of the, the, I guess not really a charity
but one of the things that you have become a, you know, you have aligned yourself with
is, is the UN, you know, supporting refugees you've become a worldwide Ambassador for that.
[Davies] When I look back at my life I often wonder where would I have been if I stayed in the refugee camp?
Would I have made it as a professional footballer?
That's why I want people to know about the importance of helping refugees.
They need our support for the immediate needs to survive.
I am proud to join the UNHCR as a Goodwill Ambassador and speak up for refugees.
You talk a lot about the importance of being a refugee and, and, and how, you know,
never underestimate a refugee, I think you said in one of your posts
why have you taken on the role with the UN?
I have take on the role, you know, it was the agency that helped my family, uh, you know, come to, come to a better life
and I feel like when people hear the word refugee they think
of a negative, negative image, you know, which is, which is not true, you know, we're
we're people as well, we're humans, you know, we don't choose to be, you know, refugees it's just something
that happens, in our, in our home and now we have to flee, we have to look for a new home, a better place to live.
Yeah, I just wanted to use my platform to spread the words, you know
not just for refugees, just, you know, people in general that need help around the world.
I want to play a clip from the interview that you and I did four years ago
Sure.
And I asked you then, about your motivation, like kind of, you know, what motivated you as a young man playing football
and here's a clip and we edited it back four years ago but I just want to play it for you now.
Seeing where they come from and seeing where we are now, I think that's one of the reasons
I try to keep my head, head level, you know, and I'm also trying to, you know, stay humble for my mom
she gave me the opportunity and I don't want to be, you know, be getting, a big head
and then something happened, and she goes, what happened, you know, I don't want to disappoint her.
So that was Alphonso Davies four years ago, you were laughing when you saw yourself?
You know his size, it's funny seeing yourself when you're so young, yeah.
But in terms of your motivation four years ago, to not disappoint your parents, your mother in particular, how would you describe that now?
I think I'm doing a good job, um, yeah they're proud of me, you know, they're they're happy, they caught me every day you know to check up
and you know they told me how proud they are of me, you know, it's nice to see because they sacrifice so much to
to give us a better life and, and I want to give you know everything back to them
you know, they're my, they're the reason why every, every, each and every day
I get up to play the sport that I love and and do my best each and every day.
Well you've given them a lot of reason to be proud, you've given Canadians a lot of reason to be proud
and we wish you luck at the World Cup.
Thank you so much.