“Money is not a motivating factor. My motivation comes from playing the game I love.”
Lionel Messi
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I am more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world.
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About this quote
Meaning
Messi is saying that his identity as a human being matters more to him than any trophy or statistical record. Being a decent, grounded person is the standard he holds himself to first, and footballing greatness comes second. It is a statement about values and priorities, not false modesty.
Context
Messi has spent the better part of his career under enormous public scrutiny, constantly measured against legends of the game and against rivals whose careers have often been framed as a direct contrast to his own. Comments like this one appear to push back against a culture that reduces athletes to their on-pitch output, insisting that character is the foundation everything else is built upon.
About the author
Lionel Messi, born in Rosario, Argentina in 1987, is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history. He came through the youth academy at FC Barcelona after moving to Spain as a young boy, and he spent the bulk of his senior career there, winning numerous league titles and Champions League trophies. He has also represented the Argentine national team extensively and claimed the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Off the pitch, he has consistently projected a quiet, family-oriented public image that aligns with the sentiment expressed in this quote.
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