---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started to play, like all kids do, not…"
description: "\"I started to play, like all kids do, not as a goalkeeper. I liked scoring goals; in the end, it's all about scoring goals.\" — Gianluigi Buffon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg"
---

#  I started to play, like all kids do, not as a goalkeeper…

![“I started to play, like all kids do, not as a goalkeeper. I liked scoring goals; in the end, it's all about scoring goals.” quote by Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg)

> “I started to play, like all kids do, not as a goalkeeper. I liked scoring goals; in the end, it's all about scoring goals.”

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success is defined by scoring goals, not by the position played; the ultimate aim is victory through offense.

**In simple terms:** Winning means scoring goals.

Key Takeaway

Focus on achieving goals.

Themes

sports competition ambition

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

sports inspirational

When to use this quote

- coaching
- player development
- match strategy

Key Concepts

goal scoring team dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What does scoring represent beyond sport?
- How to balance offense and defense?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on scoring can ignore defense.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [When you're a kid you want to be a striker, you want to be scoring goals. I still want to be scoring goals! It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/when-you-re-a-kid-you-want-to-be-a-striker-you-want-to-be-scoring/)

[Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/)

> [If a goalkeeper can save you 15-20 points a season, his value is high. It's like a striker scoring 20 goals a season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/if-a-goalkeeper-can-save-you-15-20-points-a-season-his-value-is-high/)

[Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/)

> [You score goals as a kid. Then you grow up stupid and become a goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/you-score-goals-as-a-kid-then-you-grow-up-stupid-and-become-a/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [Often, there are fallacies when a journalist or a fan and sometimes even a coach who has never been a goalkeeper sees a cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/often-there-are-fallacies-when-a-journalist-or-a-fan-and-sometimes/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [The role of a goalkeeper is difficult to judge, above all if you haven't been a goalkeeper. It's like me giving an opinion on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/the-role-of-a-goalkeeper-is-difficult-to-judge-above-all-if-you-haven/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [In the end, you need to be a little masochistic to be a goalkeeper. A masochist and egocentric as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/in-the-end-you-need-to-be-a-little-masochistic-to-be-a-goalkeeper-a/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [When I first started, I'd play to a few people. My mum would invite everyone she knew and the venue was filled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/when-i-first-started-i-d-play-to-a-few-people-my-mum-would-invite/)

[Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/)

> [On my youth teams, I always pretty good. I guess I just really started to play with some of my peers around age 8…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/on-my-youth-teams-i-always-pretty-good-i-guess-i-just-really-started/)

[Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/)

> [When I started to play tennis my mum told me to enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/when-i-started-to-play-tennis-my-mum-told-me-to-enjoy/)

[Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/)

> [I started to play in the fourth grade and didn't score for, like, a whole year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/i-started-to-play-in-the-fourth-grade-and-didn-t-score-for-like-a/)

[Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/)

> [When I started to play, all the coaches said it didn't make sense for me to try to play tennis because I was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominika-cibulkova/when-i-started-to-play-all-the-coaches-said-it-didn-t-make-sense-for/)

[Dominika Cibulkova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominika-cibulkova/)

> [I was still on the bench at the beginning in Naples, then I started to play and I wanted to enjoy my moments. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/i-was-still-on-the-bench-at-the-beginning-in-naples-then-i-started-to/)

[Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/)

> [When I started to play football as far I was concerned I just played football. I didn't want all the stuff around it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/when-i-started-to-play-football-as-far-i-was-concerned-i-just-played/)

[Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/)

> [I wish I had started to play the ukulele much earlier in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-wish-i-had-started-to-play-the-ukulele-much-earlier-in-life/)

[Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/)

> [I started to play the guitar for a couple of years, which was fun. I still bring it out once in a while, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-started-to-play-the-guitar-for-a-couple-of-years-which-was-fun-i/)

[Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/)

## More by Gianluigi Buffon

> [When you go somewhere and think it will be your last time there, you always appreciate the beauty of it even more and want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/when-you-go-somewhere-and-think-it-will-be-your-last-time-there-you/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I don't want to disrespect anyone, but it's clear that any team which has the chance to play with Messi, Suarez, and Neymar has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-don-t-want-to-disrespect-anyone-but-it-s-clear-that-any-team-which/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I have a wealth of experience, but I do not want to coach. I rather like the role of recruiter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-have-a-wealth-of-experience-but-i-do-not-want-to-coach-i-rather/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I followed tennis a little. I liked Lendl, Edberg, and Rafter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-followed-tennis-a-little-i-liked-lendl-edberg-and-rafter/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [If I can push myself up to the 2018 World Cup, then I'll go on. After that, I'll close the door and stop playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/if-i-can-push-myself-up-to-the-2018-world-cup-then-i-ll-go-on-after/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [My dad suggested I change and try to play in goal. I always liked being at the heart of the action, trying to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/my-dad-suggested-i-change-and-try-to-play-in-goal-i-always-liked/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [Maybe I'm the only footballer who isn't interested in cars. My Lancia Y gets me around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/maybe-i-m-the-only-footballer-who-isn-t-interested-in-cars-my-lancia/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [Don't be a keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/don-t-be-a-keeper/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I have not lost an awful lot in my life, but the defeats have taught me more than the victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-have-not-lost-an-awful-lot-in-my-life-but-the-defeats-have-taught/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [Even if I were offered twice my salary elsewhere, I would stay at Juve. Doing so would make me proud, as it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/even-if-i-were-offered-twice-my-salary-elsewhere-i-would-stay-at-juve/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I can no longer understand what the parameters are for valuing a player. It's all too random and in the hands of whoever has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-can-no-longer-understand-what-the-parameters-are-for-valuing-a/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [In the end, you need to be a little masochistic to be a goalkeeper. A masochist and egocentric as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/in-the-end-you-need-to-be-a-little-masochistic-to-be-a-goalkeeper-a/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [The pitch is the most beautiful part of the game; it gives you emotions which bring meaning to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/the-pitch-is-the-most-beautiful-part-of-the-game-it-gives-you/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I cannot appreciate anybody who creates controversy over things which do not exist. I can tolerate controversy over things which truly happened, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-cannot-appreciate-anybody-who-creates-controversy-over-things-which/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

> [I believe in doing the right things; that is my character and personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-believe-in-doing-the-right-things-that-is-my-character-and/)

[Gianluigi Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

[Explore all 61 Gianluigi Buffon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/)

## More End quotes

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/)

[AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/)

> [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/)

[Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/)

> [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/)

[Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/)

> [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [Obviously, I want to win, but at the same time, at the end of the day, it's a game and that's what I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/obviously-i-want-to-win-but-at-the-same-time-at-the-end-of-the-day-it/)

[Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/)

> [I loved Twitter. But I was going to end up saying something that would get me into trouble. I have kept a clean nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-richards/i-loved-twitter-but-i-was-going-to-end-up-saying-something-that-would/)

[Micah Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-richards/)

> [I'm a humanist at heart: at the end of the day, we are all human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-m-a-humanist-at-heart-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-are-all-human-beings/)

[Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/)

> [At the end of the day, winning games is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/at-the-end-of-the-day-winning-games-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/)

[Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/)

> [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/)

[Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/)

> [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/)

[Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/)

> [Regular panelists on shows can be terrifying. They own that space, and many guest comics suspect they are favoured in the edit, while their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/regular-panelists-on-shows-can-be-terrifying-they-own-that-space-and/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/)

[Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/)

> [I have an intense dislike of doctrines, because you will always end up eating your words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/i-have-an-intense-dislike-of-doctrines-because-you-will-always-end-up/)

[Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/)

Browse all 7,862 End quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I started to play, like all kids do, not as a goalkeeper. I liked scoring goals; in the end, it's all about scoring goals.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gianluigi Buffon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-as-a-goalkeeper-i-liked/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "End"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-as-a-goalkeeper-i-liked/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/gianluigi-buffon-11141_end_i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-a_1765061.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I started to play, like all kids do, not as a goalkeeper. I liked scoring goals; in the end, it's all about…” — Gianluigi Buffon",
                "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": "Gianluigi Buffon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluigi-buffon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I started to play, like all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-as-a-goalkeeper-i-liked/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluigi-buffon/i-started-to-play-like-all-kids-do-not-as-a-goalkeeper-i-liked/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
