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“The day you think there is no improvements to be made is a sad one for any player.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“My ambition is always to get better and better.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“I never think about the play or visualize anything. I do what comes to me at that moment. Instinct. It has always been that way.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“I always thought I wanted to play professionally, and I always knew that to do that I'd have to make a lot of sacrifices. I made sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to start a new life. I changed my friends, my people. Everything. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“When it comes to being badass nothing beats this It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

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

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“You cannot allow your desire to be a winner to be diminished by achieving success before and I believe there is room for improvement in every sportsman.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“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 (1987) Argentine association football player

“At Barca we trained every day with the ball. I hardly even took a step running without a ball at my feet.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Being a dad changes everything for the better and I’m really enjoying it.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Barcelona gave me everything, they took a chance on me when nobody else would. I never have any desire to play for anybody else, I will be here for as long as they want me.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“What I do is play soccer, which is what I like.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“You know as a player that you won’t have many opportunities to play in World Cups - so you have to take them when you can.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Whether it's a friendly match, or for points, or a final, or any game - I play the same. I'm always trying to be my best, first for my team, for myself, for the fans, and to try and win.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer) was my hero. He was the best forward I've ever seen. He was so fast that he could score a goal from nothing and he struck the ball better than anyone I've seen.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“Diego is Diego and for me he is the greatest player of all time. Even after a million years I am not even going to be close to Maradona. I have no intention of comparing myself with Maradona - I want to make my own history for something I have achieved.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“[Becoming a father] has changed everything. He [Thiago] comes first then everything else. It has also changed the way I see a match. Before if I lost or did something wrong I didn't talk to anyone for three or four days, until it passed. Now, I come home after a game, I see my son and everything is alright.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

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

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player