“Ashley Cole is a fantastic defender. I have seen him keep the best players in the world quiet.”

Henry is a beautiful player and has got complete technique, I adore watching him. I respect him very much as a man and as a footballer. He reminds me of myself.

I am very pleased it has all been resolved. I wanted to stay at the club and they wanted me too, there was never a problem. There were only a few small matters to sort out.

No one has nicer teeth than me. Why would anyone laugh at my lovely teeth?

No matter who you are it’s the simple things in life that lead you to believe that you can achieve anything.

The toughest opponents for me are the defenders who are tough in the way they play – where you can’t see a way through.

Brazil goes into every World Cup expecting to win – so when it is in Brazil it is expected even more. You can’t understand what the World Cup means to our country.

If you’re playing for five hours you don’t want to score goals all the time and I loved dribbling. I could score a goal, but I preferred to dribble.

Our confidence comes from our preparation.

I have never imagined doing anything other than football, but now, thinking about it coldly, if I hadn’t been a footballer, I would have been a musician.

I was at Barcelona for many years where I won a lot of things and achieved a lot of dreams. For these reasons it holds a special place in my life.

I have the chance to do for a living what I like the most in life, and that’s playing football. I can make people happy and enjoy myself at the same time.

I would like my Dad to be alive so he could see what I am.

I am ugly but what I do have is charm.

Paolo Maldini and John Terry are two of the toughest men I have met on the field.

I am passionate about music – and people think because I go to places where I can enjoy music I have to be partying. It isn’t true.

I still have a video of my father, which I watch before every game I play for Brazil. It gives me strength, makes me determined.