“I would love to win the Ballon d’Or, but honestly, I’m not even thinking about it.”

You have to maintain a sense of unity – a good atmosphere where everyone feels happy is one of the keys to success, and that’s something you shouldn’t lose.

I think of myself as a great player, but the fans have to decide whether that’s true.

We’ve had to handle defeat many times, and you can’t drawn any conclusions.

Sometimes you lose; that is football.

I think of myself as someone who gives everything, and I wake up every day wanting to keep growing.

It’s up to the coach to decide who is in the best shape to play each match.

Disrespect is bad for the atmosphere around a team.

I don’t care whether I play on the right or in the centre. All I want is for the coach to have faith in me.

Every day, I wake up eager to learn new things, and I am grateful to Mourinho for that.

Whenever we lose, it is a sad day.

I keep my opinions to myself. I’ve always said that everyone is free to think what you like.

It is good to have competition.

There are sometimes easier games and others harder, but the Champions League always requires enormous concentration.

I wake up every day with tremendous enthusiasm.

When you win many titles, the rivals are full of antipathy towards you.

Bad things can happen even to the best players.

It was a real honour to receive the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award.

There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and never win titles.

The number 7 shirt is an honor and a responsibility. I hope it brings me a lot of luck.

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

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

I am always motivated. I am ambitious and I want to always improve.

I still remember when my teacher told me that football wouldn’t give me anything to eat.

Say more with your feet than you ever could with words.