“Music is more than just background noise for me—it’s a key part of my everyday life,” Sara Däbritz tells Apple Music. “No matter where I am or what I’m doing, music is always there—whether I’m driving, training, or getting ready for a game. Before football matches, I use music to motivate myself and get into the right mindset. It helps me focus, push aside distractions, and build up energy.” The songs that get the Germany midfielder focused and firing on match days include fiercely motivational tracks like DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” (“It’s played before games because it boosts, it’s giving confidence and creates a winning mindset, ”says Däbritz. “It encourages to believe in ourselves and the ability to win!”). While others are chosen for their mood-lifting powers: “[Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran’s] ‘Peru’ instantly puts me in a good mood and smile on my face,” she says. “It gives off a real holiday feeling: relaxed, sunny, and full of joy. ‘Viva La Vida’ [by Coldplay] is one of my all-time favorite songs. The title says it all: ‘Live the life.’ Every time I hear it, I instantly think of my family, childhood memories, and the powerful emotions tied to those moments.” Music isn’t just there for the warm-up, either. “After games, music is how I celebrate victories,” she says. “It lifts my mood and makes the wins feel even better. But it’s not just about hype—music is also my way to relax. When I need to wind down and clear my head, it’s the perfect way to escape. I listen to different kinds of music, in different languages. During my years in France [Däbritz has played club football for both Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon], we listened to a lot of French songs and Afropop. Thanks to a Spanish friend, we started playing Spanish music on the way to training or matches. It always put us in a good mood, helped us relax, and created a sense of joy and excitement for the game. That kind of music brings positive energy and makes everything feel lighter.”