For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership. He’s incredible. He has always been under-rated throughout his career. He’s a team player, a one and two-touch footballer who makes good decisions on the pitch and makes his team play

And I don’t really like golf. I know a lot of English footballers play, but I know that if I go with the club to play, sooner or later I will end up trying to smash the ball with my foot.

We are professional footballers. How to cope with the pressure is one of the things we have to learn

When I dreamt of being a footballer I dreamt of being a forward, but I wasn’t talented enough.

It’s the perfect club for any footballer to develop and to grow, because as everybody knows, La Masia can give you stability; they take care of you when you leave home.

I want to be a footballer. I don’t want to do anything else

The best thing about having a footballer dad is seeing the game up close. You watch him train, then go home and practice what you’ve seen in the front room, rearranging the furniture.

I’ve always wanted to be a footballer, and I’ve always believed that’s the path I was going to go down.

I was a fan once, and I remember what it was like approaching footballers for their autographs. I used to get starstruck a lot of the time.

In Brazil, we think we can help by using our image, the fact that we are very well known, to help others. I think lots of footballers want to do something, but many don’t know how.

It is not my place to make judgments about the behavior of any other footballer. Cars and women, things like that, have never been important to me. My family, and my belief in God and Jesus are the things which determine my life. I do want to live my life in the right way, and live my life close to God.

People whistle me because I am good-looking, rich and a great footballer. They are jealous of me.

When my family isn’t alright, I get restless. It just doesn’t seem right to me.

Without football, my life is worth nothing.

I know who likes football likes me

I’m in love with football, but I just needed to recapture that strength to train and play. So many people helped me along the way that I’m afraid to leave anyone out. Above all, though, I want to mention the help of my medical team that has been working alongside me for the past two years.

Ronaldo can do whatever he wants as a footballer. There are some things he does with the ball that make me touch my head and wonder how he did it.

Let me be clear: I am sick of having to criticise the club which I gave my life to as a footballer.

Let me tell you what it is like playing against Messi. You are up against a footballer who can take the ball either side of you, and you have no idea which side that might be from any hint about his body-shape.

There are times in the career of every young English footballer when they simply need to take their chance to establish themselves.

Would I swap what I have achieved as a cook if I could have been as successful as a footballer? Definitely.

Footballers today are millionaires by the time they’re 22 or 23. More and more of them are going out and looking for something to give them a buzz outside football, be it gambling, drugs or booze. I got my buzz from playing. Players now have a groin injury for months and months and I often think they don’t really give a toss whether they’re playing or not because they’re getting paid anyway.

Pele called me the greatest footballer in the world. That is the ultimate salute to my life.

He’s a phenomenal player who has many qualities that year after year he improves. He’s one of the best.

I don’t know, I’ve liked football since I was a kid and I’ve always dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, I never thought of any other job.

All I dreamed of when I became a footballer was to play for a club as big as Real Madrid. It’s maybe the most famous and best club in the history of football.

I’m happy that a normal person can win the Ballon D’Or.

People didn’t believe me when I told them I practiced harder than I played, but, it was true. That’s where my comfort zone was created by the time . The game came, all I had to do was react to what my body was already accustomed to doing.

The basketball court for me, during a game, is the most peaceful place I can imagine. On the basketball court, I worry about nothing. When I’m out there, no one can bother me.

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

It doesn’t matter if I am better than Cristiano Ronaldo, all that matters is that Barcelona are better than Madrid.

I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.

I can’t speak for the future. I have no crystal ball.

I’m not out there sweating for three hours every day just to find out what it feels like to sweat.

I’m not out there sweating for three hours every day just to find out what it feels like to sweat.

Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too.

I’ve never lost a game, I just ran out of time.

If I wasn’t paid to be a professional footballer, I would willingly play for nothing.