A Quote by Javier Zanetti

Messi is an extraordinary player, but your squad is pivotal: at a World Cup, the 11 players on the pitch and everyone else in the group can all play an important role.

Javier Zanetti

Quote Topics

Cup Else Everyone Everyone Else Extraordinary Group Important Important Role Messi Pitch Pivotal Play Player Players Role Squad World World Cup Your

Quote Author

Javier Zanetti
Argentinian - Athlete
Born: August 10, 1973

You can put the players on the pitch but they always move and systems change. I think, though, that Messi has to be a special case and that the other nine outfield players should support him. But one player on his own is not going to win you the World Cup.

Mario Kempes

When you have a group of players with self-belief... nine times out of 10, players can be very talented to make the roster, but they need that quality, and it is pivotal at a World Cup.

Jill Ellis

Maradona and Messi played in different times and in different positions. Messi is much more a striker, Diego was all over the entire pitch. They are two extraordinary players.

Diego Simeone

Messi on the World Cup 2014? He showed why he is the best player in the world. It was a pleasure to see him play.

Alessandro Del Piero

There is no point going man-to-man with a player of Messi's ability. He is so clever he would drag your player all over the pitch and still find a way to destroy you, probably exploiting the hole you've left by assigning someone to that role.

Tony Pulis

Mascherano's impact as a leader is more important inside the squad, and Messi's leadership is more important in the pitch.

Gerardo Martino

I joined a big club like Monaco and it was extraordinary for my growth as a player. That gave me the chance to break into the national squad, win the 1998 World Cup, the EURO in 2000, and make the leap to Italian football.

David Trezeguet

To me, it's just another game of football - 11 players, a grass pitch. Regardless what shirt I have on, it's important you win the game, and I'm competitive as anyone, and I want to win every game, whether it's a Sunday league game, a five-a-side tournament, or a World Cup qualifier.

Nikita Parris

Messi is the best player on the planet and he keeps on improving at Barça, now the best team in the world. What Messi does on and off the pitch is an inspiration for children who dream of becoming a footballer.

Novak Djokovic

But any squad needs players who are hungry to do well, with their careers ahead of them. That's important for the dynamic of the group, but it also needs a balance of guys who have seen it, done it and have that quality of leadership. It is all about the quality of the player.

Graham Potter

I want to play right-back. I have worked my whole life to get to where I am now in a World Cup squad and to showcase my talent in the World Cup stage, playing in my position.

Kyle Walker

I can play in the 11 positions because a good player can play anywhere on the pitch.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The player picked as No 23 in the squad will not win the World Cup for you.

Sven-Goran Eriksson

Of course you have Messi and Ronaldo. And then you've got a lot of players who are very close to each other and I think Gareth Bale is one of them, like at the level of the best teams in the world. He could play for every team in the world. For me he's a world class player.

Jan Vertonghen

Now, they hold the World Cup every year, so it's like any Super Series. It's boring. To me, it's very boring. I think the players will always attend the World Cup. But for the fans, and also for most players, the Olympics and Asian Games will become more important. Nobody will look forward to the World Cup with anticipation.