João Paulo Rebelo, former Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, and Luís Campos Ferreira, former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, were the protagonists of the last session on The Academy stage, in a conversation moderated by journalist Nuno Vieira, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper O Jogo.

Football is, in fact, Portugal's driving force in the world and a key part of Portugal's internationalisation. But that's not all: ‘The Thinking Football Summit emphasises the strength that football has. The guest panels and the whole organisation are a good example of the importance of football in Portugal. There isn't anyone who doesn't come here and isn't impressed by what they see,’ João Paulo Rebelo began.

‘Portugal even organised two of the main finals of UEFA's main club competition during the pandemic, something that recognises our capacity to organise at world level. Euro 2004 was also a very successful event, as was the bid with Spain for the 2030 World Cup, which speaks volumes for Portugal's international standing,’ he added.

Luís Campos Ferreira also has no doubt about the importance of the sport of king and queen in recognising Portugal across borders, as well as at home. ‘Football in Portugal currently has brutal figures in terms of GDP, economic development and impact on social areas. Football also ends up bridging some of the country's gaps by being inclusive and by its phenomenon of identification and belonging,’ said the former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, emphasising Portugal's merits in developing the industry:

"Football has great importance in the various sectors of Portuguese society and Portugal is effectively a benchmark country throughout the world, due to its qualities and skills. We have developed not only in terms of what football is played, but also in the way it is governed. Portugal knows the business, the sector and how things are done from a sporting and economic point of view."