Lionel Messi

fight dream sacrifice

"You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it."

—Lionel Messi

money motivating rich ball feet footballer professional

"Money is not a motivating factor. Money doesn't thrill me or make me play better because there are benefits to being wealthy. I'm just happy with a ball at my feet. My motivation comes from playing the game I love. If I wasn't paid to be a professional footballer I would willingly play for nothing."

—Lionel Messi

win title team individual awards person football player decent

"I prefer to win titles with the team ahead of individual awards or scoring more goals than anyone else. I'm more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world. When all this is over, what are you left with? When I retire, I hope I am remembered for being a decent guy."

—Lionel Messi

important win lose game football

"There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game."

—Lionel Messi

play soccer like messi

"What I do is play soccer, which is what I like."

—Lionel Messi

accept win lose always

"Sometimes you have to accept you can't win all the time."

—Lionel Messi

football watchmaking talent elegance rigour precision

"In football as in watchmaking, talent and elegance mean nothing without rigour and precision."

—Lionel Messi

years better improvement ambition sad layer

"I have many years to get better and better, and that has to be my ambition. The day you think there is no improvements to be made is a sad one for any player."

—Lionel Messi

manager team philosophy style play

"Despite having a new manager, the team continues to play with the same philosophy. Were playing with the same style of play."

—Lionel Messi

Messi Barcelona home stay years

"This is what I always say: Barcelona is my home and I hope that I stay here for many years."

—Lionel Messi