Blaise Matuidi backs tech shift in sport’s digital era
Former Paris Saint-Germain and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi believes football must embrace innovation as it enters a new digital era. Speaking exclusively with SiGMA World at AIBC Eurasia 2026 in Dubai, Matuidi, who is now a venture capital founder, details how building bridges between sport and technology while encouraging the next generation to think beyond the pitch is the way forward.
Matuidi, the 2018 World Cup winner, reflected on his transition from elite football to entrepreneurship and why technology now sits at the centre of his ambitions.
From football glory to business purpose
Matuidi, who enjoyed a decorated career with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and the French national team, said his post-football journey is driven by a sense of responsibility.
“I had the chance to have a great career,” he said in French. “Now I feel the desire to set an example for the new generation, who are talented but sometimes do not think about tomorrow.”
“It is my duty to pass on what I have learned. I was lucky to meet people who helped and supported me, and now I want to give back to young people who may not have that chance,” he added.
For Matuidi, entrepreneurship is not simply a second career, but a continuation of his role as a leader—this time off the pitch.
Building a bridge between sport and tech
In 2022, Matuidi launched Origins Fund, a venture capital firm focused on high-potential technology companies. “We created this fund to educate athletes to become entrepreneurs,” he explained. “We wanted to build a bridge between the world of sport and the world of entrepreneurship.”
The fund brings together athletes and experienced founders, leveraging a combined social media reach of around 160 million followers to support portfolio companies. “Today, visibility is key,” Matuidi said. “Social media is an important aspect, and through our visibility as athletes, we can highlight the companies we invest in.”
Among its investments are ventures focused on mental well-being, including Moka Care, which supports employees’ mental health, an issue Matuidi said resonates strongly with athletes. “Mental health is a delicate subject today,” he noted. “For us as athletes, it plays an important role in our lives. It is important to give it visibility and create impact.”
Philanthropy and academies for the next generation
Beyond investment, Matuidi said he remains committed to grassroots development through academies in the United States and Congo, targeting children from the age of eight. “I have this desire to pass on and give back to young people,” he said. “I try to support them, help them and bring all my experience.”
He described the initiative as both a personal mission and a source of fulfilment. While football remains central, Matuidi stressed the broader life lessons the sport can offer. “Football is also an education for life,” he said. “We hope they become not only very good athletes, but above all good people.”
Football meets new industries
Matuidi also addressed football’s growing links with emerging sectors such as tech and digital entertainment, highlighting his role as a global ambassador for Paris Saint-Germain.
“It is a pleasure to travel the world with the club and still feel part of the family,” he said. “It is an honour to have that recognition.”
On the sport’s evolution, he was clear: “We are in a new era—the era of technology. We live in this world, and we adapt.”
Now firmly embedded in the tech space, Matuidi sees innovation not as a trend but as an essential shift. “I am passionate,” he said. “Technology excites me, and that is why it feels natural to me.”
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