--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start…" description: "\"If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up.\" — Fabio Cannavaro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg" --- # If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up. ![“If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up.” quote by Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg) > “If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up.” [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having a star player gives an early advantage but doesn't guarantee victory. **In simple terms:** Star players give early lead. Key Takeaway Don't rely solely on talent. Themes sports competition strategy Mood determined optimistic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - coaching - team building - game planning Key Concepts team dynamics expectations early advantage Questions to Reflect On - How can a team maintain momentum after early lead? - What other factors decide a game? A Different Perspective Even with a star, teamwork and adaptation matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) ## Related quotes > [I respect Messi a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-respect-messi-a-lot/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Messi is top but Maradona is another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/messi-is-top-but-maradona-is-another-world/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Every player wants to start the game, especially me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/every-player-wants-to-start-the-game-especially-me/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [At the start of every game, you are focussed on the game you are playing, so you don't look back at previous games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-navas/at-the-start-of-every-game-you-are-focussed-on-the-game-you-are/) [Jesus Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-navas/) > [Being able to play a whole season, play every game and start every game means a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-thompson/being-able-to-play-a-whole-season-play-every-game-and-start-every/) [Tristan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-thompson/) > [When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/when-they-start-the-game-they-don-t-yell-work-ball-they-say-play-ball/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [When you start the game, coaches will tell you to do stuff in a particular way, and kids do that. But the moment you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/when-you-start-the-game-coaches-will-tell-you-to-do-stuff-in-a/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [I don't like feeling full when I start a game, so that's why I have a bigger meal in morning or four hours before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-o-hara/i-don-t-like-feeling-full-when-i-start-a-game-so-that-s-why-i-have-a/) [Kelley O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-o-hara/) > [I want to start every game I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/i-want-to-start-every-game-i-can/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [It's always nice to get off to a good start, but one game is one game, you know. Good or bad, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gostkowski/it-s-always-nice-to-get-off-to-a-good-start-but-one-game-is-one-game/) [Stephen Gostkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gostkowski/) > [Hard work doesn't start during the game. Hard work starts the night before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/hard-work-doesn-t-start-during-the-game-hard-work-starts-the-night/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [We're going to start the game at nil-nil and go out and try to get some goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-robson/we-re-going-to-start-the-game-at-nil-nil-and-go-out-and-try-to-get/) [Bryan Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-robson/) > [“Step 4: Practice Your Reaction Time! All that’s left is to connect the battery to the supply columns. The button at the bottom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oyvind-nydal-dahl/step-4-practice-your-reaction-time-all-that-s-left-is-to-connect-the/) [Oyvind Nydal Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oyvind-nydal-dahl/) > [You can't start in this game saying, 'I'm gonna make money playing it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/you-can-t-start-in-this-game-saying-i-m-gonna-make-money-playing-it/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot; Follow your spirit: and upon this charge, Cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-see-you-stand-like-greyhounds-in-the-slips-straining-upon-the-start/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Fabio Cannavaro > [I've always been strong physically and I think for a player what happens off the field is even more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-ve-always-been-strong-physically-and-i-think-for-a-player-what/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [A coach needs time to get to know the players, the environment, the fans and the culture of the club. You can't solve everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/a-coach-needs-time-to-get-to-know-the-players-the-environment-the/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [My dream was to become the flagship player for Napoli. Even though I played for other teams, I would have liked to have returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/my-dream-was-to-become-the-flagship-player-for-napoli-even-though-i/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [A compact defense has always been the basis of Italy's team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/a-compact-defense-has-always-been-the-basis-of-italy-s-team/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [When I first arrived at Napoli, I was the ball boy, which meant that I got to watch as the legends trained. Then, once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/when-i-first-arrived-at-napoli-i-was-the-ball-boy-which-meant-that-i/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Real are the type of club where you are expected to win every game. For a player who wants to be the best it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/real-are-the-type-of-club-where-you-are-expected-to-win-every-game/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [As a defender, you can be many shapes and sizes. You can be short and fast. Or you can be tall and jump high.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/as-a-defender-you-can-be-many-shapes-and-sizes-you-can-be-short-and/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [It can be lonely as a manager out there. You are on the field, yes, but you are not really on the field with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/it-can-be-lonely-as-a-manager-out-there-you-are-on-the-field-yes-but/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I watch every game in the Premier League and I like the ambience and culture of football in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-watch-every-game-in-the-premier-league-and-i-like-the-ambience-and/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I know that people in Guangzhou have been very kind to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-know-that-people-in-guangzhou-have-been-very-kind-to-me/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I am Neapolitan and Naples are the team from where I grew up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-am-neapolitan-and-naples-are-the-team-from-where-i-grew-up/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [If you work in a certain manner, you don't make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-you-work-in-a-certain-manner-you-don-t-make-mistakes/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Prandelli is a coach with great experience and he knows how to work with young people also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/prandelli-is-a-coach-with-great-experience-and-he-knows-how-to-work/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Of course when you are starting to be a coach you want to do your best and my national team is my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/of-course-when-you-are-starting-to-be-a-coach-you-want-to-do-your/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [If the opportunity came to manage Al Ahli then why not? I would also like to one day coach one of the globe's great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-the-opportunity-came-to-manage-al-ahli-then-why-not-i-would-also/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) [Explore all 100 Fabio Cannavaro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fabio Cannavaro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-the-game-1-0-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-the-game-1-0-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6b/fabio-cannavaro-5879_game_if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-t_1968772.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up.” — Fabio Cannavaro", "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": "Fabio Cannavaro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you have Messi or Ronaldo...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-the-game-1-0-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-you-have-messi-or-ronaldo-you-start-the-game-1-0-up/#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 } } ] } ```