The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every nation in the world, highlighting how globally interconnected we are. To mitigate the health, social and economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis, the world needs effective global responses. However, multilateral cooperation has been facing dramatic headwinds before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The G20 could play a key role in revitalizing multilateral cooperation, by pushing for new ways and means to deal with global challenges.