Quotes tagged ‘soccer’

“Football is the best, is the biggest sport in the world. It is the biggest family in the world is the football. The same passion you have here in Turkey, we have in Brazil, they have in Russia, they have in Germany, they have... you know football is the only sport where you put people together, you…”

— Pele, global-leaders.tv

“The biggest family in the world today is football, because football has more associate—and FIFA, for example—has more associates than UNESCO. Then it becomes a big family.”

— Pele, global-leaders.tv

“The reason it was nicknamed ginga was that normally, when we'd play against a European team—now it's changed a bit—but back then, the European teams were very tough and physical. They were big, and defensively solid. Even the English, who invented football, were like that starting out. There were so…”

— Pele, esquire.com

“From my point of view, what's beautiful in the sport is something you don't need to know too much about tactics or anything to see. If you find something beautiful, you don't need to be an expert to know it. It's like ballet.”

— Pele, esquire.com

“The reason the sport has grown so big, I think, is that it's not only for rich people. It's not just for big people—size doesn't exclude people. Everyone can participate. That's why it's become so popular worldwide. You don't need to have any special quality in particular to play.”

— Pele, esquire.com

“I cried watching that game and not just because of the score. I cried because I do not know what happened to the joy of Brazilian football.”

— Pele, espn.com

“If I pass away one day, I am happy because I tried to do my best. My sport allowed me to do so much because it’s the biggest sport in the world.”

— Pele, the-talks.com

“Of course the work is very, very important. That is exactly what my father meant: God gave you the gift to play football, but this is a present. You must respect people and work hard to be in shape. And I used to train very hard. When the others players went to the beach after training, I was there…”

— Pele, the-talks.com

“I used to tease the other kids because I played better than them. Then my father said, Come here. Don’t do this with the kids, because God gave you the gift to play football. You didn’t do anything. This was a present from God. You have to respect people, because it is important to be a good man, a…”

— Pele, the-talks.com

“I have a very good family that supports me when I need it. I’ve always been in football, which I love, and then with the public, which I love too. Of course, I had to change my life a little bit and lose some privacy. But my personality grew into it through the years.”

— Pele, hbr.org

“P is for Pelé. The greatest footballer of all time.”

— Pele, bbc.com

“Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pelé. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man.”

— Pele, en.wikiquote.org

“I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music.”

— Pele, en.wikiquote.org

“Football is the ultimate in team sport. And no individual can win a game by himself. Pelé is a famous name, but Pelé made his goals because another player passed to him at the proper time.”

— Pele, independent.co.uk

“The head talks to the heart and the heart talks to the feet.”

— Pele, esquire.com

“I would pass onto any young player to enjoy your football, play your football as you want to play the game, try and enjoy it and make the most of it.”

— Lionel Messi, soccerbible.com

“I’d always played football on the street since I was tiny, and it was great fun. After that, I started playing for a local neighbourhood team when I was about five or six.”

— Lionel Messi, fourfourtwo.com

“I’m always proudest whenever I’ve been part of trophy-winning team. Lifting a title makes me feel so happy because it’s what I want to do in football: be successful.”

— Lionel Messi, fourfourtwo.com

“Pressure in football is an interesting topic. Personally, I try to help myself as best I can. I’m always looking to remain as calm and relaxed as possible when I go onto the pitch. When I feel the grass beneath my feat I feel sure, because playing football is what I enjoy most.”

— Lionel Messi, fourfourtwo.com

“My first memories are from when I was very little, maybe three or four years old playing in my neighbourhood at home. I can picture myself with the ball at my feet from a very young age.”

— Lionel Messi, espn.com