130+ Top Soccer Quotes to Motivate Your Team

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Plus, tips for sharing motivational soccer quotes on social media!
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Soccer (or football) is considered the most popular sport in the world. It requires focus, flexibility, and perseverance, and if you’re a player or coach, referencing a famous soccer quote can help you stay calm and motivated. That’s why we’re providing the ultimate list of soccer quotes to help you play your hardest, whether you’ve just won the game or have conceded a goal. Keep reading for inspirational , short , and funny options!

Inspiring Soccer Quotes & Sayings

  • “Losers complain, winners train.” — José Mourinho
  • “Injuries can never be used as excuses.” — Victor Valdes
  • “Keep working even when no one is watching.” — Alex Morgan
  • “The only victory that counts is the one over yourself.” — Lionel Messi
  • “I don’t believe in luck, I only believe in hard work.” — Zlatan Ibrahimovic
  • “Football is played with your head. Your feet are just the tools.” — Andrea Pirlo
  • “Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
Section 1 of 13:

Motivational Soccer Quotes

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  1. Focus on hard work and determination to motivate players. Soccer is a mentally demanding sport, where you face constant pressure and need to manage a wide range of emotions. This can be overwhelming at times, but turning to a quote can help you stay calm, cool, and collected. Here are the best motivational quotes to cope with stress and adversity:
    • “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” — Pelé [1]
    • “Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
    • “You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” — Lionel Messi
    • “Play for the name on the front of the shirt, and they will remember the name on the back.” — Tony Adams
    • “Every day provides a new opportunity to get even better. Basically, it's a matter of mentality.” — Erling Haaland
    • “My dad always taught me to never be satisfied, to want more and know that what is done is done.” — Thierry Henry
    • “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” — Mia Hamm
    • “The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.” — Mia Hamm
    • “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pelé
    • “Keep dreaming, even when people laugh at your dreams or tell you that they are impossible to achieve. Keep believing in yourself.” — Tobin Heath
    • “The secret is to believe in your dreams; in your potential that you can be like your star, keep searching, keep believing and don’t lose faith in yourself.” — Neymar Jr.
    • “A champion is someone who does not settle for that day's practice, that day's competition, that day's performance. They are always striving to be better. They don't live in the past.” — Briana Scurry
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Section 2 of 13:

Inspirational Soccer Quotes

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  1. Encourage players to shoot for the stars with an inspirational quote. From Beckham to Messi, there are so many soccer legends that many players aspire to be like. Share a quote from an icon to remind yourself (or your fellow teammates) why you play the beautiful game:
    • “The reason I succeed is because I’ve never been afraid to fail.” — David Beckham
    • “Everybody has a talent, but it's what you do with it that makes it great.” — Alex Morgan
    • “All good athletes make mistakes; the great ones learn to make that mistake only once.” — Raul Lopez
    • “Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win.” — Lionel Messi
    • “In football, the worst things are excuses. Excuses mean you cannot grow or move forward.” — Pep Guardiola
    • “Like the greats, you want to make your own story yourself, and not be a copy of another.” — Kylian Mbappe
    • “When you win, you don’t get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far.” — Diego Maradona
    • “Football is not just a game; it’s an art form. You have to be creative, think outside the box, and always be one step ahead of your opponent.” — Ronaldinho
    • “The most important thing is to never give up, never give in to circumstances, believe in yourself, and to soldier on, no matter what's in your way.” — Luka Modrić
    • “Don't be scared to be ambitious. It's not a humiliation to have a high target and to fail. For me, the real humiliation is to have a target and not to give everything to reach it.” — Arsène Wenger
    • “Good soccer players need not be titans sculpted by Michelangelo. In soccer, your ability is much more important than shape, and in many cases, skill is the art of turning limitations into virtues.” — Eduardo Galeano
    • “To become a great player, you've got to show real dedication and commitment to football, and you've got to be very humble and hard-working. And, above all, you've got to fight to make your dreams come true.” — Sergio Ramos
Section 3 of 13:

Short Soccer Quotes

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  1. Stick to a short and snappy quote to get your point across. Looking for a quick quip to remind someone to focus? The following quotes are the perfect pick-me-up when you’re feeling wrecked in the middle of practice or after you’ve conceded a goal during a game:
    • “Soccer is a magical game.” — David Beckham
    • “Losers complain, winners train.” — José Mourinho
    • “Soccer isn’t brain surgery; have fun.” — Michelle Akers
    • “The past doesn’t matter. Take today.” — Becky Sauerbrunn
    • “Talent without working hard is nothing.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
    • “Keep working even when no one is watching.” — Alex Morgan
    • “The first 90 minutes are the most important.” — Bobby Robson
    • “It’s hard to beat somebody that never gives up.” — Megan Rapinoe
    • “You owe it to yourself to be the best you can be.” — Christian Pulisic
    • “The only victory that counts is the one over yourself.” — Lionel Messi
    • “I don’t believe in luck, I only believe in hard work.” — Zlatan Ibrahimovic
    • “The fear of losing is sometimes greater than the will to win.” — Emma Hayes
    • “Football is played with your head. Your feet are just the tools.” — Andrea Pirlo
    • “If you think you’re perfect already, then you never will be.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
    • “In football, the worst blindness is only seeing the ball.” — Nelson Falcão Rodrigues
    • “Before kids can play like a pro, they must enjoy playing the game like a kid.” — Steve Locker
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Section 4 of 13:

Funny Soccer Quotes

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  1. Get the giggles going with a funny and memorable soccer quote. Grab your jersey, lace up your cleats, and prepare for a lineup of laughs! Here are the funniest soccer quotes to crack up everyone on your team:
    • “The World Cup is a truly international event.” — John Motson
    • “I can't help but laugh at how perfect I am.” — Zlatan Ibrahimovic
    • “I couldn't settle in Italy; it was like living in a foreign country.” — Ian Rush
    • “Their football, Arsenal, is on another level, but Spurs are fighting like beavers.” — Chris Kamara
    • “We didn’t underestimate them, but they were a lot better than we thought.” — Bobby Robson
    • “If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.” — Terry Venables
    • “We must have had 99% of the game. It was the other three percent that cost us the match.” — Ruud Gullit [2]
    • “I’ve had 14 bookings this season; eight of which were my fault, but seven of which were disputable.” — Paul Gascoigne
    • “Look, I'm a coach, I'm not Harry Potter. He is magical, but in reality, there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real.” — José Mourinho
    • “Apparently, when you head a football, you lose brain cells, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m a horse. No one’s proved it yet, have they?” — David May
    • “He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle, and he doesn’t score many goals. Apart from that, he’s alright.” — George Best on David Beckham
Section 5 of 13:

Soccer Quotes for Girls

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  1. Empower girls to keep playing soccer with an inspiring quote. If you want to remind girls that they’re just as strong and capable as male players, turn to a quote from a top female soccer player. Here are some great quotes to boost girls’ confidence and motivate them to work harder:
    • “I worked on my weaknesses and made them my strengths.” — Sydney Leroux
    • “It’s about standing up and being counted and saying you’re proud of who you are.” — Megan Rapinoe
    • “I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.” — Mia Hamm
    • “You must not only have competitiveness but ability, regardless of the circumstance you face, to never quit.” — Abby Wambach
    • “Do what you love. If you love something, you aren’t going to care about the sacrifices you’re making to do whatever it is.” — Kelley O’Hara
    • “Alright, call me a tomboy. Tomboys get medals. Tomboys win championships. Tomboys can fly. Oh. And tomboys aren’t boys.” — Julie Foudy
    • “Many people say I’m the best women’s soccer player in the world. I don’t think so. And because of that, someday I just might be.” — Mia Hamm
    • “There’s no better feeling than stepping out on the field and stunning them all by doing what none of them thought you could do.” — Ashlyn Harris
    • “And then ultimately what I tell the kids is: coaches can give you information, they can give you guidelines, and they can put you in a position. But the only person who can truly make you better is you.” — Brandi Chastain
    • “We need to have women in more powerful positions that are making decisions, so when that 10-year-old girl is looking up and wondering, ‘What can I do and what do I want to be when I get older?’ She has the opportunity to do and be whatever she wants.” — Abby Wambach
    • “Surround yourself with good people. Surround yourself with positivity and people who are going to challenge you to make you better. If you just kind of let yourself stay alone and be by yourself, the negative, it is just not going to help you. You can control two things, your work ethic and your attitude about anything.” — Ali Krieger
    • “Forget me. Forget my number. Forget my name. Forget I ever existed. Forget the medals won, the records broken, and the sacrifices made. I want to leave a legacy where the ball keeps rolling forward, where the next generation accomplishes things so great that I am no longer remembered. So forget me, because the day I’m forgotten is the day we will succeed.” — Abby Wambach
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Section 6 of 13:

Soccer Quotes for Injured Players

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  1. Lift their spirit with an inspirational quote about the comeback journey. Getting injured during a game is one of the toughest experiences for any sports player, but words from others who have overcome setbacks and adversity can help them stay strong. Here are some great quotes to share during the rehabilitation process:
    • “Lions don’t recover like humans.” — Zlatan Ibrahimovic
    • “Injuries can never be used as excuses.” — Victor Valdes
    • “Whatever brings you down will eventually make you stronger.” — Alex Morgan
    • “You can overcome anything if, and only if, you love something enough.” — Lionel Messi
    • “When things don't go your way, you've got to keep trying to do the right things.” — Dele Ali
    • “Embrace the opportunity, no matter what it is. Look at everything in a positive light.” — Julie Ertz
    • “When times are down, keep believing, keep working hard, and things will pick up.” — Harry Kane
    • “You come up against challenges in life, and it's how you deal with them that defines you.” — Harry Kane
    • “If you win without sacrifice, you enjoy it, but it's more satisfying when you have struggled.” — Andres Iniesta
    • “You can either let that injury be the biggest setback or your biggest comeback, but the choice is yours.” — Jayde Riviere
    • “A life of anybody is not perfect; there is always things that happen, and that is what makes it interesting.” — Kevin De Bruyne
Section 7 of 13:

Soccer Quotes About Life

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  1. Share your love of soccer with a beautiful quote about the sport. If soccer is your life, the following quotes are just for you! They highlight the lessons in teamwork, resilience, and dedication, and express how the game brings people together. Here are the best quotes about passion and love for soccer:
    • “Life is a soccer field, don't you think?” — Shakira
    • “I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.” — Ronaldinho [3]
    • “Football is the ballet of the masses.” — Dmitri Shostakovich
    • “Without football, my life is worth nothing.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
    • “Sometimes you just try things and they happen.” — Diego Jota
    • “There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game.” — Lionel Messi
    • “I can only control my effort and my ability to embrace anything thrown at me.” — Crystal Dunn
    • “I’ve never scored a goal in my life without getting a pass from someone else.” — Abby Wambach
    • “There are ups and downs, but whatever happens, you have to trust and believe in yourself.” — Luka Modrić
    • “We cannot live being obsessed with what other people think about us. It's impossible to live like that. Not even God managed to please the entire world.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
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Section 8 of 13:

Soccer Quotes About Teamwork

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  1. Emphasize teamwork and collaboration for successful results. The success of a soccer team relies on the collective effort of all players, meaning everyone has to be on top of their game. Here are some motivational quotes to help everyone succeed:
    • “No individual can win a game by himself.” — Pelé
    • “Without team-mates, it's difficult to play well.” — Son Heung-min
    • “You play with 10 players, you don't play alone.” — Kylian Mbappe
    • “No one is bigger than the team, you win together, and you can certainly lose together.” — Sam Kerr
    • “Geese always support each other. Just as geese do, we must support each other.” — Emma Hayes
    • “Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your teammate.” — Johan Cruyff
    • “I hate to speak about individuals. Players don't win you trophies, teams win trophies, squads win trophies.” — José Mourinho
    • “It’s that tingle in my stomach, that lump in my throat, and that smile on my face that tell me I am part of an incredible team.” — Kristine Lilly
    • “If you want special results, you have to feel special things and do special things together. You can speak about spirit, or you can live it.” — Jürgen Klopp
    • “To be the ultimate team, you must use your body and your mind. Draw up on the resources of your teammates. Remember, only teams succeed.” ― José Mourinho
    • “A team is not made up of isolated individuals. Always stay in the group. This way, you have the strength of the group and you have the strength of the individual.” — Diego Maradona
    • “I don't like it when a player says, ‘I like freedom; I want to play for myself.’ Because the player has to understand he is part of a team with ten other players. If everyone wants to be a jazz musician, it will be chaos. They will not be a team, and nothing will be possible.” ― Pep Guardiola
Section 9 of 13:

Soccer Quotes from Coaches & Managers

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  1. Drop some jewels of wisdom from your favorite coaches or managers. Soccer coaches and managers are mentors, motivators, and role models who shape players’ skills and character on and off the field. Here are some motivating quotes from the heart of the club:
    • “Success is not permanent and failure is not fatal.” — Sir Alex Ferguson
    • “Life is full of regrets, but it doesn't pay to look back.” — Zinedine Zidane
    • “Football is a matter of life and death, except more important.” — Bill Shankly
    • “Once you bid farewell to discipline, you say goodbye to success.” — Sir Alex Ferguson
    • “Football is an art, like dancing. It requires whole-hearted concentration.” — Arsène Wenger
    • “The key to success in football is to be in the right place at the right time.” — Teddy Sheringham
    • “If there is one thing more than others that a successful footballer needs, it is energy.” — Michel Platini
    • “A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.” — Ara Parseghian
    • “Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.” — Johan Cruyff
    • “As someone who loves football, I want to give something back to the game and help it develop further.” — Franz Beckenbauer
    • “Young players need freedom of expression to develop as creative players. They should be encouraged to try skills without fear of failure.” — Arsène Wenger
    • “I once cried because I had no shoes to play football with my friends, but one day I saw a man who had no feet, and I realized how rich I am.” — Zinedine Zidane
    • “I think soccer is a great game because it brings people together. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what language you speak, soccer unites everyone.” — Marco Van Basten
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Section 10 of 13:

Soccer Quotes from Famous Players

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  1. Share wise words from current and past players to navigate the game. Soccer has been around since the 19th century, and while the rules and regulations have changed over time, the heart of the game has remained the same. Here are some winning quotes from iconic players throughout history:
    • “It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.” — Leo Messi
    • “I’ve never tried to hide the fact that it is my intention to become the best.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
    • “To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiest man in the world.” — Diego Maradona
    • “The most important thing for a forward is the speed of thought. Top players read the game.” — Samuel Eto’o
    • “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success.” — Diego Maradona
    • “My game is based on improvisation. Often, a forward does not know what he will do until he sees the defenders’ reactions.” — Ronaldinho
    • “Football is a universal language. It brings people together. irrespective of their nationalities, cultures, or beliefs.” — George Weah
    • “I don’t believe skill was, or ever will be, the result of coaches. It is a result of a love affair between the child and the ball.” — Ron Greenwood
    • “Soccer is simple. You just need to have the right mentality, fighting in every game, in every practice, and for every ball.” — Hristo Stoichkov
    • “For sports players who want to be champions, the mind can be as important, if not more important, than any other part of the body.” — Gary Neville
    • “I think self-belief is a massive thing in football. If you don't believe in yourself, not many others will. Work hard and believe in yourself, and I think you'll go as far as your body will take you.” — Harry Kane
    • “I have to keep working hard and playing well because I don’t like to be second or third. They’re the worst places to be. You would be proud, of course, because it means you’re on the way, but you want to finish first.” — Paul Pogba
Section 11 of 13:

Weird & Silly Soccer Quotes

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  1. Turn to a bizarre soccer quote when you need a laugh. There’s funny… and then there’s strange, sus, and completely weird. The following quotes fit the latter, making them great options when you need a break from training:
    • “I was surprised, but I always say nothing surprises me in football.” — Les Ferdinand
    • “I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the league.” — Mark Viduka
    • “Strangely, in slow-motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer.” — David Acfield
    • “Some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar.” — Rafael Benitez talking about Roy Hodgson
    • “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.” — Eric Cantona, after kung-fu kicking a fan
    • “I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.” — Brian Clough on his standing
    • “I pay for pizza, you pay for the sausage. I am the sausageman.” — Claudio Ranieri, after having a sausage named in his honor
    • “Swedish style? No. Yugoslavian style? Of course not. It has to be Zlatan-style.” — Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his style of play
    • “I don’t celebrate because I’m only doing my job. When a postman delivers letters, does he celebrate?” — Mario Balotelli on celebrating goals
    • “Young players are a little bit like melons. Only when you open and taste the melon are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good.” — José Mourinho
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Section 12 of 13:

How to Share Soccer Quotes on Social Media

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  1. Post inspirational soccer quotes with relevant hashtags weekly. To increase visibility and engagement on social media, “use accurate and trending hashtags,” says social media manager Beth Cormack. You should also “use trending sounds and post consistent, engaging content.” [4] Generally, it’s a good idea to post 3-5 times per week on your main feed, early morning on a weekday, but it’s better to post less frequently with high-quality content than to post often with mediocre content. [5]
    • Some great soccer hashtags include #soccerlife, #football, #futbol, #fifa, #worldcup, #premierleague, #championsleague, #soccermotivation, and #soccerquotes.
    • Create aesthetically pleasing content using design platforms like Canva. You can attach an inspiring soccer quote to a graphic with your club’s brand and colors, and include action shots from practice or matches.
Section 13 of 13:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    What can you say to motivate a soccer player? You can use any of the following quotes above to motivate your team or players, but here are some words of encouragement to say in the middle of a game, after a loss, or during practice:
    • “Play every game like it’s your last.”
    • “Remember why you love this game.”
    • “Believe in yourself and your abilities.”
    • “Trust your instincts and play the game.”
    • “Leave it all on the field. Give 110% effort.”
    • “Never give up, even when things get tough.”
    • “Every player has a role, and every role is important.”
    • “Work together, play together, and celebrate together.”
  2. 2
    What are some creative ways to share soccer quotes? Send quotes in a monthly (or weekly) soccer newsletter to create a sense of community in your club. Drop a famous quote in a “Monthly Motivation” section, or ask players or coaches to share their favorite ones. You could also attach quotes to a motivational board at the entrance of your practice room or locker room, or create custom gear, like hats or water bottles, that feature a motivational quote.
  3. 3
    What are some other good motivational quotes? Countless motivational quotes touch on themes such as perseverance, positive thinking, opportunity, and growth. Here are some great options from politicians, philosophers, and other prominent individuals:
    • “Don't wait. The time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill
    • “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
    • “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
    • “Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” — Sam Levenson
    • “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” — Truman Capote
    • “You will never plough a field if you only turn it over in your mind.” — Irish Proverb
    • “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
    • “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/inspirational-soccer-quotes/
      2. ↑ https://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/inspirational-soccer-quotes/
      3. ↑ https://www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/inspirational-soccer-quotes/
      4. ↑ Beth Cormack. Social Media Manager. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://www.ama.org/marketing-news/the-best-times-to-post-on-social-media/

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