World Cup 2014: Portraits of footballers who have all scored in The World Cup

Two nights ago was the first game of this World Cup at Brazil’s iconic Maracana took place between Bosnia on Argentina; on 13 July the eyes of the world will be on the stadium once again for the showpiece final. In terms of reach, anticipation and sporting significance, few events eclipse the World Cup Final and this sense of it being special feeds into Michael Donald’s football-themed project. He tracked down the 35 men still alive who have scored in this all-important game to film, photograph and interview them. Some like Pele and Sir Geoff Hurst are bona fide football legends, others include a bathroom salesman and an insurance broker.

This project is about much more than football; it’s about the changing nature of sport in society and how fate, history and individual excellence combine to create heroes, willing or otherwise.

The photographs are currently on display at the Proud Archivist gallery space in east London as part of its World Cup celebrations until 13 July.