Naomi Osaka reflects on the lessons of her past, the reality of her present and hopes for the future

The scene: Rashford had pulled up to St George's Park National Football Centre in Burton Upon Trent, England, for a World Cup Qualifiers training camp.

The Manchester United and national-team forward gave his tacit-but-it's-there support for Osaka's brand and voice. Hers, presently focused on racial justice initiatives, is not unlike his own. Rashford, to his credit, has eagerly taken part in or led campaigns in England that focus on food insecurity, poverty, and literacy.

For those who might not know Rashford well, he appeared on Time magazine's "100 Next" roster—in the advocate category, not solely as an athlete—last month. His write-up in that pub came from a fellow British sports star, Lewis Hamilton. And about a year ago, he signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation empire, given his promise as a budding personality outside the lines of global soccer fields.

What's more, he knows how to catalyze action in public officials, such as the United Kingdom's prime minister, Boris Johnson.

If you're in the "children are our future" camp—which would be wise—then you're positively gobsmacked by what these two have achieved in not yet a quarter-century of life. Here's to all that's next—starting with, as of yesterday's news, a new book that seeks to inspire kids.

I really wanted every child (11-16) to open this book and feel like it was written for them regardless of their background, their home environment, the colour of their skin, their gender, their religion. This was the absolute priority and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved https://t.co/LY2xgNjJOc
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) March 24, 2021