DeMar DeRozan explains how Gregg Popovich treated basketball as almost the least important part of coaching
“There used to be days… We’d come in there thinking we had practice… But Coach Pop would show us Something going on in a third-world country… With 13-year-old kids being trained… To be killers with AK-47s.”
“He would say, we get to come here… and shoot a basketball… Make millions of dollars… Take care of your kids.”
“He used to do a lot of things… To put stuff in perspective all the time. That’s genuinely who he was… At all times.”
“It was always basketball last. You as a man first. Family, everything else before basketball.”
“He would tell us, this basketball stuff ain’t nothing. F— wins and losses. F— championships. What’s really important is: How are you doing? How’s your family? How are your kids?”
Mike Evans LOVES playing with the 49ers:
“This team has definitely felt like it’s rejuvenized me and potentially added some years to my career. We’ll see down the line, but I love it here. A great roster, a great coaching staff, a great franchise and something I wanted to be a part of.”
via: @knbrmurph | @MarkusBoucher
🚨🤯 NEW: The Mexican Government and Liga MX will create 2,000 NEW ACADEMIES across the country, with the goal of finding new talents like Gilberto Mora.
They also plan to FURTHER EXPAND scouting efforts across the United States. 🇺🇸👏🏼
Via @el_pais
🚨 “I’m Not Surprised by Messi’s Success” — Ronaldinho Explains Why
🗣️:“It’s not a surprise to me seeing Lionel Messi achieve everything he deserves and live the life he’s living today. Not at all. When you truly know him, both on and off the pitch, you understand why everything goes his way.”
“On the pitch, we all know who he is — magic, genius, someone the world may never see again. But off the pitch… that’s where he becomes even greater.”
“I remember one of the most difficult moments of my life, when I was in prison. It wasn’t easy. You feel forgotten, you feel alone… but Messi made sure I never felt that way.”
“He kept calling me, checking on me, making sure I was okay. He always told me, ‘Don’t hesitate, whatever you need, just tell me.’ And he meant it.”
“I’ll never forget my birthday in there… I had even forgotten it myself. But Messi didn’t. He was the first person to reach out, to remind me, to make me smile in a place where it’s hard to smile.”
“He was also huge in helping me with my situation. Things like that… you don’t forget. Ever.”
“I know he wouldn’t like me saying all this, because that’s the kind of person he is — he helps in silence, he doesn’t look for attention. But I have to say it.”
“That’s why I’m never surprised by his success. A man like that… he can never fail in life. Never.”
“I will always be grateful to him.”
Mexican flags have been placed on all 80,000+ seats at the Estadio Azteca for today’s match between Mexico and England. 🏟️🏆
The scenes are going to be breathtaking. 🤯❤️
❤️ A Korean couple wearing Mexico shirts were spotted enjoying tacos in a restaurant in Mexico City, while a local looked on with the biggest smile on his face.
He's so happy because they are happy enjoying his culture and traditions. 🇰🇷🇲🇽
How is it that the Méxican players are playing with no intensity. With a whole country behind you there has to be a sense of pride and intensity. #wakeup#worldcup#mexico
That was the worse first half I’ve seen México play. Midfield is stagnate, no vision, not making any connections. Korea’s high press making it very uncomfortable. Half time substitutions are mandatory.
🚨🗣️ Zlatan Ibrahimović on the Messi vs Ronaldo GOAT debate:
“Every week, every month, every year, somebody asks me the same question.”
🗣️ “‘Zlatan, who is the GOAT? Messi or Ronaldo?’”
🗣️ “Honestly? I get tired of hearing it.”
🗣️ “Not because they aren't great players. They are.”
🗣️ “But because people talk about football as if it is a video game.”
🗣️ “One player scores a goal and suddenly he's the GOAT.”
🗣️ “The other wins a trophy and suddenly the debate is over.”
🗣️ “Football is bigger than that.”
🗣️ “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest athletes football has ever seen.”
🗣️ “The goals. The mentality. The discipline. The longevity.”
🗣️ “Nobody can take that away from him.”
🗣️ “Over 900 career goals.”
🗣️ “League titles in different countries.”
🗣️ “Champions Leagues.”
🗣️ “Records everywhere.”
🗣️ “Cristiano created a legacy that may never be repeated.”
🗣️ “But then there is Lionel Messi.”
🗣️ “And this is where people get angry with me.”
🗣️ “Because for me, Messi is not normal.”
🗣️ “Cristiano mastered football.”
🗣️ “Messi became football.”
🗣️ “When I watch Messi, I don't see a player following the game.”
🗣️ “I see a player creating the game.”
🗣️ “The goals.”
🗣️ “The assists.”
🗣️ “The dribbling.”
🗣️ “The vision.”
🗣️ “The intelligence.”
🗣️ “The World Cup.”
🗣️ “Everything.”
🗣️ “People ask me how I compare them.”
🗣️ “Sometimes I don't understand the comparison.”
🗣️ “It's like comparing a lion to a shark.”
🗣️ “Both are killers.”
🗣️ “But they hunt differently.”
🗣️ “Cristiano is the greatest goalscorer I have ever seen.”
🗣️ “Messi is the greatest footballer I have ever seen.”
🗣️ “There is a difference.”
🗣️ “And before Ronaldo fans get angry, listen carefully.”
🗣️ “Being second to Messi is not an insult.”
🗣️ “Most players would dream of being second.”
🗣️ “Cristiano is a legend.”
🗣️ “A football icon.”
🗣️ “A player who changed history.”
🗣️ “But if you lock me in a room and force me to choose one player...”
🗣️ “One player for one match.”
🗣️ “One player for my life.”
🗣️ “One player to represent football itself.”
🗣️ “I choose Messi.”
🗣️ “Every time.”
🗣️ “Because goals can be broken.”
🗣️ “Records can be broken.”
🗣️ “Trophies can be matched.”
🗣️ “But what Messi does with a football?”
🗣️ “That cannot be taught.”
🗣️ “That cannot be trained.”
🗣️ “That is a gift from God.”
🐐🇦🇷⚽
🗣️ “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in history.”
🗣️ “Lionel Messi is history.”
Thierry Henry on Lionel Messi becoming the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick and the player with the most goals from outside the box in World Cup history:
🗣️ “I honestly don't know what more there is left to say about Lionel Messi anymore. Every time you think he has reached the top of the mountain, he somehow finds another peak that nobody else has ever climbed before.”
“The oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick. Just stop and think about that for a second. At an age when most players are retired, coaching, or sitting in television studios, Messi is still breaking records on the biggest stage in football.”
“And it's not just the hat-trick that amazes me. He now has more World Cup goals from outside the box than anyone in history. That tells you everything about the level of technique, vision, and confidence we are talking about.”
“These are not lucky goals. These are moments of genius. The type of goals where everyone in the stadium knows what he wants to do, but nobody can stop him from doing it anyway.”
“What makes this even more incredible is that this is his sixth World Cup. Six World Cups. Different generations, different teammates, different opponents, yet the same outcome every single time Lionel Messi deciding matches.”
“People always ask what makes certain players special. Well, special players break records. Legends create records. Messi is doing both at the same time while carrying the expectations of an entire nation.”
“I've played against some of the greatest footballers in history, I've watched some of the greatest footballers in history, but what Messi continues to do at 38 years old simply doesn't make sense.”
“This is no longer about talent. This is no longer about numbers. This is football history unfolding right before our eyes, and every single match feels like another chapter in a story that nobody thought was possible.”