--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always wanted to play against the best." description: "\"I always wanted to play against the best.\" — Eric Cantona" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg" --- # I always wanted to play against the best. ![“I always wanted to play against the best.” quote by Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg) > “I always wanted to play against the best.” [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to challenge top talent drives improvement and ambition. **In simple terms:** Wanting to face the best pushes you forward. Key Takeaway Seek out high‑level competition to grow. Themes competition ambition growth Mood focused inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports - career development - personal challenges Key Concepts sports psychology mastery Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to find stronger opponents? - How does competing with the best shape your skills? A Different Perspective May cause frustration if opportunities are limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-best/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-play/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-just-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [I didn't want to go out there and prove to everyone or try to prove people wrong or what I can do. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-ayton/i-didn-t-want-to-go-out-there-and-prove-to-everyone-or-try-to-prove/) [Deandre Ayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-ayton/) > [You always want to play against the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/you-always-want-to-play-against-the-best/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [I prefer to play against the best players and the best teams and the best coaches. Never personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/i-prefer-to-play-against-the-best-players-and-the-best-teams-and-the/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [We want to play against the best in the world, nevermind Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-houghton/we-want-to-play-against-the-best-in-the-world-nevermind-europe/) [Steph Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-houghton/) > [I wanted to get into films, and my parents were against it. I convinced my mom, and finally she convinced my dad. My dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay/i-wanted-to-get-into-films-and-my-parents-were-against-it-i-convinced/) [Vijay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay/) > [I retired one year in 1959. But then I realized I wanted to play more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-retired-one-year-in-1959-but-then-i-realized-i-wanted-to-play-more/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I've wanted to play Lollapalooza all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yungblud/i-ve-wanted-to-play-lollapalooza-all-my-life/) [Yungblud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yungblud/) > [ I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down \[defender\]. Madison Square Garden, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-wanted-to-play-in-new-york-when-i-was-in-my-prime-and-i-was-young/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [I wanted to play the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-carlson/i-wanted-to-play-the-piano/) [Gretchen Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-carlson/) > [I'm very happy to be among the best and to play with the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinicius-junior/i-m-very-happy-to-be-among-the-best-and-to-play-with-the-best/) [Vinicius Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinicius-junior/) > [For me it's a great challenge to play against the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/for-me-it-s-a-great-challenge-to-play-against-the-best/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [Every time I've played in the postseason, it's another huge accomplishment that I want to take full advantage of and go out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/every-time-i-ve-played-in-the-postseason-it-s-another-huge/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I rely on all Hyperice technologies to make sure I can move and play my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/i-rely-on-all-hyperice-technologies-to-make-sure-i-can-move-and-play/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [Ronaldo will always score against everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/ronaldo-will-always-score-against-everyone/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) ## More by Eric Cantona > [Children go where they find sincerity and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/children-go-where-they-find-sincerity-and-authenticity/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [A good goal is one that is important and beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/a-good-goal-is-one-that-is-important-and-beautiful/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I didn't study; I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-study-i-live/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Every experience makes you a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/every-experience-makes-you-a-man/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I don't know where my medals are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-know-where-my-medals-are/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Whatever happens, there are always things you could have done better. You score two goals and you usually feel you could have done better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/whatever-happens-there-are-always-things-you-could-have-done-better/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Great businessmen are creators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/great-businessmen-are-creators/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I observe the world and the people surrounding me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-observe-the-world-and-the-people-surrounding-me/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [We can be eaten by techniques and forget what we have inside of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/we-can-be-eaten-by-techniques-and-forget-what-we-have-inside-of-us/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I want to look forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-want-to-look-forward/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I don't think the world of football is so serious. It's important to have distance about things and about yourself. If we believe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-think-the-world-of-football-is-so-serious-it-s-important-to/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I was always being creative. I could never have played a defensive role because I would have been forced to destroy the other player's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-was-always-being-creative-i-could-never-have-played-a-defensive/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I didn't want really to be involved in a normal soccer club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-want-really-to-be-involved-in-a-normal-soccer-club/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I know that I have a face, a look, people aren't used to seeing. A presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-know-that-i-have-a-face-a-look-people-aren-t-used-to-seeing-a/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I'm proud of what I achieved there, but a life built on memories is not much of a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-m-proud-of-what-i-achieved-there-but-a-life-built-on-memories-is/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) [Explore all 120 Eric Cantona quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) ## More Against quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. 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It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saku-koivu/it-goes-way-way-back-when-we-were-under-sweden-s-rule-we-always-think/) [Saku Koivu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saku-koivu/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I'm an Indian and I shall not do anything that goes against my ethos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/i-m-an-indian-and-i-shall-not-do-anything-that-goes-against-my-ethos/) [Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/) [Browse all 2,190 Against quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always wanted to play against the best.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Cantona" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Against" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/eric-cantona-3882_against_i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best_2124520.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always wanted to play against the best.” — Eric Cantona", "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": "Eric Cantona", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always wanted to play against...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-always-wanted-to-play-against-the-best/#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 } } ] } ```