--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out playing football in the…" description: "\"I started out playing football in the streets, playing barefoot like all the boys there - we didn't have the money for football boots.\" — David Villa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg" --- # I started out playing football in the streets, playing… ![“I started out playing football in the streets, playing barefoot like all the boys there - we didn't have the money for football boots.” quote by David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg) > “I started out playing football in the streets, playing barefoot like all the boys there - we didn't have the money for football boots.” [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recalls playing barefoot street football, highlighting passion despite poverty. **In simple terms:** He played football barefoot as a kid. Key Takeaway Channel early passion into current pursuits. Themes poverty passion resilience sports Mood inspirational nostalgic Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - community games - youth coaching - sports outreach - personal training Key Concepts social inequality motivation Questions to Reflect On - How did early hardship shape your drive? - What can you give back to similar communities? A Different Perspective Resources may limit development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barefoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barefoot/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) ## Related quotes > [I started playing football in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-started-playing-football-in-the-streets/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I started playing football on the streets; I grew up playing football on the streets with my friends, and that's why I was brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-started-playing-football-on-the-streets-i-grew-up-playing-football/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I began playing football on the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-jesus/i-began-playing-football-on-the-streets/) [Gabriel Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-jesus/) > [Everything I have achieved in football is due to playing football in the streets with my friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinedine-zidane/everything-i-have-achieved-in-football-is-due-to-playing-football-in/) [Zinedine Zidane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinedine-zidane/) > [Football boots are very technical and have lots of specific requirements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinedine-zidane/football-boots-are-very-technical-and-have-lots-of-specific/) [Zinedine Zidane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinedine-zidane/) > [It's difficult when you start to play football. My boots were much worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willian/it-s-difficult-when-you-start-to-play-football-my-boots-were-much/) [Willian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willian/) > [We didn't have football boots, and we used a broken tennis ball instead of a football. I didn't use a proper ball until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/we-didn-t-have-football-boots-and-we-used-a-broken-tennis-ball/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [In Ivory Coast it's very hard to have normal shoes, so just imagine football boots - they were considered a true luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/in-ivory-coast-it-s-very-hard-to-have-normal-shoes-so-just-imagine/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [Right now, there are millions of pairs of football boots that people have grown out of or replaced, and we need to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/right-now-there-are-millions-of-pairs-of-football-boots-that-people/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [I used to play football on the streets with my friends and ended up where I am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-iwobi/i-used-to-play-football-on-the-streets-with-my-friends-and-ended-up/) [Alex Iwobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-iwobi/) > [I learned to play football in the streets. Every day of school, everyone came and played football. The street is a good school, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/i-learned-to-play-football-in-the-streets-every-day-of-school/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [I used to play football on the streets, kicking breadfruits or oranges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yorke/i-used-to-play-football-on-the-streets-kicking-breadfruits-or-oranges/) [Dwight Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yorke/) > [Ever since I started playing football, just trying to make a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/ever-since-i-started-playing-football-just-trying-to-make-a-play/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [I have always been in love with football. As a child, I started playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-capello/i-have-always-been-in-love-with-football-as-a-child-i-started-playing/) [Fabio Capello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-capello/) > [I started playing football young, and my career was on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/i-started-playing-football-young-and-my-career-was-on-the-pitch/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) ## More by David Villa > [The World Cup was the biggest thing ever for the national team, but the Champions League is the biggest thing for clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/the-world-cup-was-the-biggest-thing-ever-for-the-national-team-but/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [As for the (Ballon d'Or) criteria, I'm not really sure how it works. Sometimes it's a World Cup year, sometimes it isn't. Let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/as-for-the-ballon-d-or-criteria-i-m-not-really-sure-how-it-works/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [At the World Cup, most teams changed their style when they played us and maybe were more defensive. In the final, we didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/at-the-world-cup-most-teams-changed-their-style-when-they-played-us/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [Barça has always given me great affection, and even to this day. I only have words of gratitude for them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/bar-a-has-always-given-me-great-affection-and-even-to-this-day-i-only/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [Messi does incredible things, his stats make you cover your eyes. He cannot be compared to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/messi-does-incredible-things-his-stats-make-you-cover-your-eyes-he/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [I made good friends at all the teams I played for, but with the national team, we created a family. It was during years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-made-good-friends-at-all-the-teams-i-played-for-but-with-the/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [Unfortunately, in life, you have to make decisions based on so many things. I love watching the Premier League, and I've always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/unfortunately-in-life-you-have-to-make-decisions-based-on-so-many/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [I don't like to criticise referees because I believe it is a very complicated job, and what they do is very beneficial for football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-don-t-like-to-criticise-referees-because-i-believe-it-is-a-very/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [Every one of my team-mates and every one working in the club wants to make things better. I'd like ask the public, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/every-one-of-my-team-mates-and-every-one-working-in-the-club-wants-to/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [I learned a lot of things that made me be a better player and have more of a variety on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-learned-a-lot-of-things-that-made-me-be-a-better-player-and-have/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [I would like to praise all of my coaches, from Pep to the first I had as a kid, because all of them have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-would-like-to-praise-all-of-my-coaches-from-pep-to-the-first-i-had/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [For me, the best defender I played against was Carles Puyol. He was my teammate, too, but my rival many times. Also, Roberto Ayala,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/for-me-the-best-defender-i-played-against-was-carles-puyol-he-was-my/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [In Europe, the leagues have been around 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/in-europe-the-leagues-have-been-around-100-years/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [Honestly, I am a fan of the game like anyone else, so my favorite players' list is pretty big. But if we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/honestly-i-am-a-fan-of-the-game-like-anyone-else-so-my-favorite/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [I have always had the same philosophy throughout my career: work hard for your club, and if you get selected, it's because the hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-have-always-had-the-same-philosophy-throughout-my-career-work-hard/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) [Explore all 23 David Villa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) ## More Barefoot quotes > [“In my opinion, walking over moss was as enjoyable as walking barefoot on the beach, if not more so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-weldon/in-my-opinion-walking-over-moss-was-as-enjoyable-as-walking-barefoot/) [Phaedra Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-weldon/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-sows-thorns-should-never-go-barefoot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [To combat jet lag, when you get to your destination go straight to a park, take your shoes off and walk barefoot. It's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willis/to-combat-jet-lag-when-you-get-to-your-destination-go-straight-to-a/) [Emma Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-willis/) > [“When I was a teenager, I used to go about barefoot with no hat and sunglasses, just open to the Sun. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-used-to-go-about-barefoot-with-no-hat-and/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [I had no trainers to play, so I went barefoot. Everyone else had trainers. I also remember running 9 km. to training one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-had-no-trainers-to-play-so-i-went-barefoot-everyone-else-had/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [When people said Africa would change me, I didn't understand what they meant. To see the poverty in the townships, for instance, is overwhelming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/when-people-said-africa-would-change-me-i-didn-t-understand-what-they/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [I love being in the woods, when I can just walk barefoot in the grass and just sit down and breathe. I love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-reyez/i-love-being-in-the-woods-when-i-can-just-walk-barefoot-in-the-grass/) [Jessie Reyez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-reyez/) > [Lord Maccon believed that if his trousers were on his legs, and something else was on his torso, he was dressed. The less done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/lord-maccon-believed-that-if-his-trousers-were-on-his-legs-and/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“The truth is that running in shoes is high impact, heel-centric, promotes bad form, is relatively unstable and inflexible, tends to weaken rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandler/the-truth-is-that-running-in-shoes-is-high-impact-heel-centric/) Michael Sandler > [“If we were to actually walk a mile in the other person’s shoes, there’s a good chance that we’d end up opting to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-we-were-to-actually-walk-a-mile-in-the-other-person-s-shoes-there/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [What HAPPINESS Means... To A Poor Barefoot Person, Happiness Is A Pair Of Shoes. To a Person With An Old Shoe, It's A Pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/what-happiness-means-to-a-poor-barefoot-person-happiness-is-a-pair-of/) Pacifiersucker > [“My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-grimutter/my-own-prescription-for-health-is-less-paperwork-and-more-running/) Leslie Grimutter > [I run in a pair of New Balances with a thinner sole, but they're nothing like those barefoot shoes that show all five toes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-run-in-a-pair-of-new-balances-with-a-thinner-sole-but-they-re/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [“I felt like one who was toiling home barefoot from distant travel, and whose wanderings had lasted many years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-felt-like-one-who-was-toiling-home-barefoot-from-distant-travel-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Browse all 250 Barefoot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barefoot/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started out playing football in the streets, playing barefoot like all the boys there - we didn't have the money for football boots.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Villa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-streets-playing-barefoot-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barefoot" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-streets-playing-barefoot-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/david-villa-25221_barefoot_i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-st_3078436.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started out playing football in the streets, playing barefoot like all the boys there - we didn't have the…” — David Villa", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Villa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started out playing football in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-streets-playing-barefoot-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/i-started-out-playing-football-in-the-streets-playing-barefoot-like/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```