Cubs Legend Rizzo Gives Back to Chicago Youth 10 Years Later

The man who caught the final out of the 2016 World Series is now catching opportunities to lift up the next generation of Chicago athletes.

Anthony Rizzo, who helped end the Cubs' 108-year championship drought, recently partnered with Abbott and Real Madrid to create the Abbott Dream Team. Sixteen Chicago soccer players, ages 18 and 19, will travel to Spain on an all-expenses-paid trip to train at Real Madrid's official facilities.

"Giving back in the community here in Chicago means the world to me," Rizzo told Fox News Digital. "These kids getting an opportunity to go to Real Madrid, practice, and train there is pretty special."

The program goes beyond just soccer skills. Abbott is teaching the young athletes about nutrition and recovery, lessons Rizzo learned during his own path to the major leagues.

"Everyone's talented when you get to the higher levels," Rizzo explained. "It's the mental capacity, it's the little things, and nutrition is one of the most important things."

Since retiring as a Cub after nearly four years with the Yankees, Rizzo has made Chicago his home base. He attends games at Wrigley Field and co-hosts a podcast with former teammate David Ross.

The Ripple Effect

The 2016 championship changed Chicago forever, but Rizzo's impact continues to grow in new directions. By emphasizing nutrition and mental preparation alongside athletic skill, the Abbott Dream Team gives these teenagers tools that extend far beyond the soccer field.

The program represents exactly what made that 2016 Cubs team special. Rizzo says they succeeded by blocking out pressure and focusing on what they could control, a mindset he's now passing along to Chicago's youth.

The Cubs will celebrate the 10-year anniversary on July 18, marking a decade since one of baseball's greatest stories. But for 16 Chicago kids heading to Spain, their own greatest story is just beginning.