Quotes from Alfredo Di Stefano

I tried my hardest and people rewarded me with applause.

I always felt like I had a job to do and that means you have to perform to perfection.

You can't run a football club as if it was a supermarket.

There are some who when they play football they carry the ball ta-ta-ta, but they are jugglers not footballers. The less you have the ball at your feet the better.

Kubala was one of the best there has ever been. His game was pure, crystalline, a real joy for the fans. What I remember is his spirit of comradeship, the loyalty he showed as a friend.

I don't want to be idolized, I just want to play. And to do that you have to run and sweat.

Pope Francis and I went to the same school.

The captaincy of the national side is a distinction which Messi deserves as he has all the qualities a captain requires - a combative character and immeasurable talent.

In football what counts is team spirit. It isn't an individual sport like boxing or tennis.

The fans are always right. If they whistle or jeer someone, it's because they want him to be effective.

Messi is the more technical player of the two. He's better inside the area, the way he handles the ball and dribbles. You can see that he enjoys himself playing. Cristiano has a better body and is physically very strong. He has pace, speed and is a player with courage, and he can use both feet.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both great players with specific qualities, but Pele was better.

Everything is relative and you have to learn that sometimes you win and other times you lose.

I retired at age 40 because my daughters looked at me one day and said: 'Dad, being bald and wearing shorts doesn't look good together'.

Scoring goals is like making love: everyone can do it, but nobody does it like me.

Ronaldo is the best. He's a truly spectacular, very complete player, with enormous power. Opponents fear him.

In our neighborhood we used to hold major football sessions that went on until it got dark, with everyone playing against each other.

If I lived my life over again I would stay in the countryside. I prefer the countryside, the milking of the cows and the sheep.

If the spectators demand from the players that they do their utmost and score goals, the players shouldn't question this.

Reputations do not win matches and trophies, only goals can do that