“It was a very special match because it was the first one without Diego. We know what the national team meant to him and we know that he was present. In addition, it was special for the situation in the country and in the world, it’s a very difficult situation for everyone." Lionel Messi
"We all know that Barcelona are the best club in the world. I think I made a great decision to be here and of course it is a step forward in my career. I am really happy and hopefully I can help the team to win things." Sergio Aguero
"He is still by far the best player. It’s special to play with him. When I was 12 years old, he was already the best in the world. I looked up to him and now I’m still humble. When the positions are the same and I can choose between playing Messi or somebody else, I always choose Messi. It would be foolish not to. He’s the best ever.” Frenkie de Jong (NU)
"The FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 will also be a real opportunity to help leave a lasting legacy in so many other areas of the game – both on and off the pitch – as well as wider society. The potential impact is incredible." Newly-appointed CEO of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia & New Zealand, Dave Beeche (FIFA.com)
"It would be great, a great achievement. Records are made to be broken. I often speak to him actually, whenever he scores a goal or two, and I always say to him 'well done', because he deserves it. In the past three or four years it seems like he’s struggling for starts with his team at club level, but whenever he plays - whether it’s at club level or in the national team - he often delivers. And yes, I know people will tell me that he didn’t score a goal at the World Cup, but at the end of the day he lifted the trophy so it doesn’t really matter." Thierry Henry on Olivier Giroud (Goal)
"You do always compare yourself with the best in your sport, just as the baker compares himself with the best bakers around him. Who makes the best croissant, the best pain au chocolat? I watch matches of other great players to see what they’re doing. ‘I know how to do this, but can the other guy do it too?’ I think other players watch me, too. I think that pushes players to raise their game, just as Messi was good for Ronaldo and Ronaldo was good for Messi." Kylian Mbappe (Esquire)
"As I’ve mentioned before, it’s so difficult to mention just one performance having played well in so many games. It is really hard to choose, but I would say the games where you score three or even four goals are always special. For example, I’ll always remember my hat-trick for Portugal against Spain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup." Cristiano Ronaldo, speaking as an Official Global Brand Ambassador for LiveScore
"He is the star man, he makes things happen. He has courage and always wants the ball in tight areas. Like Cristiano Ronaldo at Portugal, you need players like that in your team. It is brave." Roy Keane on Jack Grealish (ITV)
"This is what you dream of as a kid. I can't describe it! I'm just over the moon. I wish my family was here to celebrate with me, but I'll speak to them later." Bukayo Saka on scoring his first goal for England's senior national team
"I want to score a goal in every game. That wouldn't be bad." Serge Gnabry ahead of UEFA EURO 2020
"I had these exact trainers in Paris and I made a promise that we will wear these shoes when we reach the Champions League final. They were a present from the president at PSG and I promised my staff I would wear them in the final. I did not wear them that day, and we lost [to Bayern Munich]. I made sure I wore them this year and they worked!" Thomas Tuchel (Chelseafc.com)
"When you see [Kante], you have to smile. He is a great personality and a great person. And a great football player. As an attacking player, I’m always happy when he is on the pitch. You can make a lot of mistakes because he always wins the ball back. He’s fast, agile and always gets his leg in. That’s why it’s not so nice to have to play against him in the first match of the European Championship, of course." Kai Havertz
“We have a big 18 months coming up. When we qualify [for the World Cup] – and I’m sure we will qualify – it would be awesome to be selected and play in a World Cup." Australia fullback Rhyan Grant (FIFA.com)
