Mastercard has enlisted goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel to help fast-track the UK’s move towards Click to Pay, a faster, simpler and more secure way to shop online. The campaign comes as new research reveals Britain is leading Europe when it comes to online payment security and digital spending habits.
In a new short film, the former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper urges shoppers to ditch passwords and lengthy card details in favour of biometrics, passkeys and trusted devices. The initiative highlights how Click to Pay replaces traditional online checkout friction with a smoother, tap-like experience — bringing digital payments closer to the simplicity of contactless shopping.
According to fresh research from Mastercard, the UK is now home to Europe’s most safety-conscious online shoppers, with 82% using security features such as biometrics, one-time passcodes and chargeback protection for unauthorised purchases. The findings reinforce Britain’s reputation as a leader in secure e-commerce and digital finance innovation.
The study also shows that UK consumers are ahead of the curve when it comes to online spending. Brits now complete 28% of their total shopping online, significantly higher than the European average of 22%. Meanwhile, more than half of UK shoppers (55%) regularly use digital payment methods such as digital wallets and open banking — signalling a clear shift away from traditional card-based transactions.
Click to Pay plays a central role in Mastercard’s long-term strategy to modernise online payments. The company is currently halfway towards its 2030 goal of phasing out manual card entry across Europe and transitioning to token-based payments through a process known as tokenisation. This move is designed to reduce fraud while making online checkout faster and more intuitive.
For UK shoppers, the benefits are immediate. With Click to Pay, consumers no longer need to enter their 16-digit card number when shopping online — something nine in ten people admitted doing last year. Instead, transactions are protected using a secure digital token that holds no real-world value if intercepted, while purchases are authorised using biometrics, passkeys or one-time passcodes.
Speaking about the campaign, Schmeichel likened the new payment experience to footballing finesse. “The future of payments should feel more like a tap-in, not an overhead kick,” he said. “Click to Pay means no more fumbling for cards or mistyping numbers — just a smooth, secure way to buy online.”
Simon Forbes, Division President for UK and Ireland at Mastercard, added that the UK is already setting the pace for payment security. “UK shoppers are leading the way, and Click to Pay will help accelerate the transition to faster, more intuitive and more secure ways to pay,” he said. “Those who adopt it now will help shape a seamless digital payments experience for the decade ahead.”
As online shopping continues to dominate consumer habits, Mastercard’s partnership with Schmeichel underlines a wider push to make digital payments safer, smarter and friction-free — positioning Click to Pay as a key player in the future of e-commerce.
