--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not saying that I am at the same…" description: "\"I am not saying that I am at the same level as Messi or Ronaldo. They are the best two players in the world, but I am very proud that I managed to fini..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/diego-forlan-5589_best_i-am-not-saying-that-i-am-at-the-same-le_3096931.jpg" --- # I am not saying that I am at the same level as Messi or… ![“I am not saying that I am at the same level as Messi or Ronaldo. They are the best two players in the world, but I am very proud that I managed to finish above them in the goalscoring charts, especially as I was playing for Atletico Madrid, not Barcelona or Real Madrid.” quote by Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/diego-forlan-5589_best_i-am-not-saying-that-i-am-at-the-same-le_3096931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/diego-forlan-5589_best_i-am-not-saying-that-i-am-at-the-same-le_3096931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/diego-forlan-5589_best_i-am-not-saying-that-i-am-at-the-same-le_3096931.jpg) > “I am not saying that I am at the same level as Messi or Ronaldo. They are the best two players in the world, but I am very proud that I managed to finish above them in the goalscoring charts, especially as I was playing for Atletico Madrid, not Barcelona or Real Madrid.” [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses pride in outperforming top players despite playing for a less‑celebrated club, highlighting personal achievement over fame. **In simple terms:** Proud of beating stars while at a smaller club. Key Takeaway Celebrate personal milestones regardless of brand. Themes pride achievement humility Mood confident reflective Type motivational personal When to use this quote - career highlights - team motivation - media interviews Key Concepts self‑efficacy comparative success Questions to Reflect On - How does individual success affect team dynamics? - What drives you to compare yourself to legends? A Different Perspective Personal pride may overlook team contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atletico Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atletico-madrid-289588/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Finish Goalscoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-goalscoring-5350197/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Level Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-messi-793712/) [Playing Atletico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-atletico-5350196/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-madrid/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think the difference between Real Madrid and Barcelona against the rest of the league is always getting bigger. It's going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-salgado/i-think-the-difference-between-real-madrid-and-barcelona-against-the/) [Michel Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-salgado/) > [Winning the Europa League with Atletico Madrid and then reaching a semi-final of the World Cup is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/winning-the-europa-league-with-atletico-madrid-and-then-reaching-a/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [I felt really proud when Simeone said I am destined to reach the level of Messi and Ronaldo. I always want to give my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-griezmann/i-felt-really-proud-when-simeone-said-i-am-destined-to-reach-the/) [Antoine Griezmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-griezmann/) > [Cristiano Ronaldo is the world class player after Messi, but for me he is not on this Galactico level of Messi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkay-gundogan/cristiano-ronaldo-is-the-world-class-player-after-messi-but-for-me-he/) [Ilkay Gundogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkay-gundogan/) > [Besides my father, who used to be a footballer at the local level, it is Messi for whom I started to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/besides-my-father-who-used-to-be-a-footballer-at-the-local-level-it/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Diego Simeone, the coach from Atletico Madrid, was a very strong player as a midfielder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/diego-simeone-the-coach-from-atletico-madrid-was-a-very-strong-player/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [It was difficult at Atletico Madrid. It was my first experience in Europe when I went there and La Liga was hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/it-was-difficult-at-atletico-madrid-it-was-my-first-experience-in/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [I have always had sympathy for Atletico Madrid because, among other things, I have friends there, and my father always liked Atletico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/i-have-always-had-sympathy-for-atletico-madrid-because-among-other/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [When Atletico tried to buy me back, I did everything I could to make it possible. I had offers from clubs in France and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filipe-luis/when-atletico-tried-to-buy-me-back-i-did-everything-i-could-to-make/) [Filipe Luis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filipe-luis/) > [Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are our rivals in domestic competitions, and they'll both fight to the end to win the League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/atletico-madrid-and-barcelona-are-our-rivals-in-domestic-competitions/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [If I return to Spain someday, Atletico Madrid would be one of my top choices without doubt. It is a club that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe-reina/if-i-return-to-spain-someday-atletico-madrid-would-be-one-of-my-top/) [Pepe Reina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe-reina/) > [It's not enough to just have talent at Atletico Madrid. At other clubs it is, but we can't sign superstars and have to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-simeone/it-s-not-enough-to-just-have-talent-at-atletico-madrid-at-other-clubs/) [Diego Simeone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-simeone/) > [I hope to stay many years in Manchester United and make history in this club. When I was at Porto and Atletico Madrid, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radamel-falcao/i-hope-to-stay-many-years-in-manchester-united-and-make-history-in/) [Radamel Falcao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radamel-falcao/) > [I would give Fernando Torres a contract for life - not just as a player but as an example for everyone. He is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-niguez/i-would-give-fernando-torres-a-contract-for-life-not-just-as-a-player/) [Saul Niguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-niguez/) > [I hope I can retire at Atletico Madrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filipe-luis/i-hope-i-can-retire-at-atletico-madrid/) [Filipe Luis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filipe-luis/) ## More by Diego Forlan > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [A player always comes on to the pitch to give their best, and I cannot be criticized for my commitment, only for my performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/a-player-always-comes-on-to-the-pitch-to-give-their-best-and-i-cannot/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [As a footballer, I have always found it better not to be too emotional. Better to be cool, consistent, clinical. Celebrate goals, yes, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-footballer-i-have-always-found-it-better-not-to-be-too-emotional/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [Other Brazilians who've gone to Europe haven't always settled so quickly. 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