Listen to the stories behind football's biggest names, hosted by Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan.
"Hosts Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan know their stuff." – The Guar...
The Brazilian Ronaldo and the 1998 World Cup Mystery
12 July 1998, Paris. It’s the FIFA World Cup – France vs. Brazil. Brazil has the unstoppable Ronaldo (O Fenômeno – the Phenomenon) on their side, and crowds are expecting a Brazilian win.
Suddenly before the match, it’s announced Ronaldo isn’t going to play. Then, suddenly, he is. Nations watch, confused, as Brazil’s best player wanders the pitch like a sleepwalker with glazed eyes, and witness Brazil’s defeat of 3-0. So what actually happened?
In this podcast episode, Mehreen and Simon tackle the conspiracy theories, mysteries, and intrigue leading up to the memorable FIFA World Cup of 1998. They track Ronaldo’s early life in Brazil, his time at PSV Eindhoven, and the footballer’s incredible rise to dominance, with stats aged 20 better than Pelé.
Ronaldo R9, a cult icon, captured the world’s attention in the 1990s by aggressively dominating the pitch. Did he have a panic attack or fit before the game? Was he drugged to ensure a French win? Was he a pawn of Nike, who had an unusual amount of control over the Brazilian team?
This is an episode for mystery lovers, true crime lovers, and football fans alike.
Time stamps:
0:36: Setting the scene: The day of the ‘98 World Cup Final
7:15: Ronaldo’s stats and playing career
12:34: Teen years and move to the Netherlands
22:14: Joining and leaving Barça
27:16: World Cup time
34:10: Brazil reaches the final
39:18: Conspiracy theories go wild
46:33: Parliamentary enquiry, and a potential epileptic fit
54:03: More conspiracy theories (there’s a lot)
1:00:05: Is the simplest theory the correct one?
1:00:07: Ronaldo’s career, 1998-2002
1:12:48: Later life and children (and why McDonald’s is so important)
1:16:21: Ronaldo R9’s legacy and influence
Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA
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By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
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1:23:37
Live with Roddy Doyle: Roy Keane, Chelsea, Ireland & more
Our first-ever live show, recorded at the Kilkenomics Economics & Comedy Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland.
The sold-out event saw Simon and Mehreen take to the stage, discussing all things football with the prize-winning author Roddy Doyle.
Die-hard Chelsea fan Doyle spoke with H&H for over an hour, where they discussed topics such as:
Doyle's lifelong connection to Chelsea Football Club, its fan base, and Mehreen's experiences as a British Asian Chelsea fan
The role of football in Irish identity and culture—from traditionally supporting English cups to the legacy of the 1990 World Cup
The globalisation of football and the universality of football fandoms—the 'dark joy' of critique and how adversity creates deeper connections in the community
The legacy of Roy Keane
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
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1:02:34
Who is Manchester United’s new manager Ruben Amorim?
Manchester United has seen numerous managers come and go since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. With Erik Ten Hag now put to pasture, who is the new Portuguese millennial manager taking the job?
This episode discusses the life and managerial career (so far) of Ruben Amorim. This is the story of a man who has rapidly catapulted his career through the Portuguese football leagues, and is now saying goodbye to the Iberian sun in favour of rainy Manchester.
Simon and Mehreen discuss Amorim’s managerial training and life in Portugal, the shadow of fellow Portuguese football manager José Mourinho, and his ongoing commitment to the back three. The team is joined by Portuguese expert and football pundit Raquel Vaz Pinto, who provides unique insights into Amorim.
Known for being an empathetic and genuine manager that treats football coaching like a psychologist, are millennial-players-turned-coaches football’s hottest new property? And how will a man, known for his captivating press conferences in Portuguese, cope in his second language in an English-speaking environment?
Time stamps:
0:36: Introduction and stats
3:45: Early life and footballing career
7:41: Amorim’s coaching credentials and the influence of José Mourinho
14:17: Early coaching career
17:25: It all goes wrong (then right again)
22:25: Amorim revitalises Sporting Portugal (... not Sporting Lisbon)
27:43: Captivating audiences at press conferences
32:03: A strict and serious side
36:28: On English clubs’ radars
41:51: Modern management, ft. Millennials and Gen Z
45:57: What if he wasn’t in football?
Make sure to listen to the following episodes after this one:
The rise and fall of José Mourinho
The making and reign of Alex Ferguson
Erik Ten Hag: The doomed Dutchman of Manchester United
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
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51:48
Eric Cantona: Art, violence, and the remaking of English football
Eric Cantona is the epitome of Rimbaud and Rambo: an artistic poet and violent, tough man. So how did this paradoxical player transform Manchester United in the 1990s? And how did this affect English football as a whole?
In this episode, Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the life and times of French footballer Eric Cantona. They track his playing career in France, how he was the missing piece of the puzzle for 90s Manchester United, and his abrupt footballing career-end at the age of 31.
This is the story of a man who was built like a boxer and thinks of himself as an artist. Famous for his kung-fu kicks, red card troubles, and propensity towards violence, this episode discusses how he also embodied a new type of footballer in the 1990s and a work-hard mentality of football as an art.
Put your collars up for this insane, violent, and often poetic tale of the man of one of Manchester United’s most integral figures.
Time stamps:
0:36: Introduction and stats
03:44: Early life in Marseille
07:29: A gifted young footballer and early playing career
11:13: Controversy and trouble in French clubs
13:40: Move to England (and a love for Rimbaud or Rambo?)
17:12 Cult hero and collar up at Leeds
22:32: Ferguson chooses Cantona for Manchester United
26:32: Strong start at Manchester United
29:53: Raising the bar at Manchester United
35:27: Simon’s Financial Times front page cover on Cantona
45:51: Community service and controversies
49:16: Karate kicking journalists
52:35: French national football team
57:47: Unexpected retirement, acting career, and politics
1:03:43: What’s Cantona up to now?
1:11:29: What if Cantona hadn’t played football?
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere.
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1:18:27
Megan Rapinoe: When soccer gets political
Megan Rapinoe is one of soccer’s most talented players, yet has an influence and legacy that extends far beyond the pitch. How did one American sportswoman become such a central figure in conversations about homophobia, feminism, and racism?
This episode tracks Rapinoe’s life, from growing up in a relatively poor working-class background to becoming the GOAT of women’s soccer. Mehreen and Simon examine how witnessing severe drug abuse and her family upbringing shaped her understanding of privilege and injustice.
This episode unpicks the polarising views of Megan, which are often at the centre of wider cultural wars. The episode discusses Rapinoe being the first top soccer player to come out (which was actually not too controversial), to being one of the first sportspeople to take the knee in 2016 (which was).
On one hand, Rapinoe is hated by president Donald Trump (“Woke equals failure”) and was once called the “most annoying sportsperson ever” by Piers Morgan. On the other hand, she is celebrated as a figure with a strong moral compass – standing up for injustices, unfair pay, and archaic power structures.
Is Rapinoe the new model for the next generation of sports stars? Or should politics be kept off the pitch?
Time stamps:
0:36: Introduction
4:43: A child of Trump’s America
9:45: A growing childhood interest in soccer
11:42: Recognising privilege and witnessing fentanyl addiction
17:17: College scholarship and move to Oregon
20:25: Discovering her sexuality
25:59: A poorly-paid pro, viral moments, and coming out
29:45: Intersectionality, homophobia, and equal pay
33:23: Racism and taking the knee in 2016
38:39: Trump vs. Rapinoe (with a father that votes for him)
44:27: Class action lawsuit for equal pay
47:10: Rapinoe’s legacy
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere.
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Listen to the stories behind football's biggest names, hosted by Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan.
"Hosts Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan know their stuff." – The Guardian
"The most interesting football podcast of the moment." – NRC, a leading Dutch daily
Heroes & Humans moves beyond the traditional boundaries of sports commentary to explore the lives of football's most interesting figures. Whether episodes are about Messi, Abramovich, Cruyff, Şükür or Haaland, this is the go-to podcast for football audio-biographies. Released once weekly on Thursdays.
Simon Kuper, acclaimed by Time Magazine as "one of the world's leading writers on soccer," and an awarded Financial Times columnist, brings a three-decade career of interviewing and understanding the personalities that define the world’s greatest sport. Having attended the last nine World Cups and boasting Europe's largest football library, Simon's insights are rooted in a profound depth of knowledge and passion for football.
Mehreen Khan, whose day job is as the Economics Editor at The Times, believes football is a "brilliant shortcut in how to understand societies, economies, and politics". She is a football obsessive and die-hard Chelsea fan. With her ability to intertwine socio-political narratives with pop culture savvy, Mehreen stands out in the football podcasting landscape. Her presence as one of the few female voices adds a valuable dimension, broadening the conversation for listeners.
Mehreen was previously the FT’s Brussels correspondent, before moving to The Times in 2022. She started her career in sports journalism at the Daily Telegraph in 2014, and wrote a football blog that touched on themes including Russia’s breakaway Muslim separatism, German multiculturalism, and the earth-shattering magnificence of Andrea Pirlo.
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