--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have got to love the game." description: "\"You have got to love the game.\" — Lionel Messi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg" --- # You have got to love the game. ![“You have got to love the game.” quote by Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg) > “You have got to love the game.” [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enjoying the sport fully is essential for success and fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Love the game to thrive. Key Takeaway Play with passion. Themes sports passion mindset Mood enthusiastic focused Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - training - competition - teamwork Key Concepts motivation engagement Questions to Reflect On - What does loving the game mean to you? - How does passion affect performance? A Different Perspective If you love the game, you may ignore its downsides. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Got Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-love/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-game/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [You've got to love the game and the game will love you back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-terry/you-ve-got-to-love-the-game-and-the-game-will-love-you-back/) [Jason Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-terry/) > [I love the game of football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-veon-bell/i-love-the-game-of-football/) [Le'Veon Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-veon-bell/) > [Man, I did love this game. I'd have played for food money... I used to love traveling on the trains from town to town.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-liotta/man-i-did-love-this-game-i-d-have-played-for-food-money-i-used-to/) [Ray Liotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-liotta/) > [Basketball is a game of sacrificing yourself for the next guy, being a team that takes good shots, and taking the right shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blatt/basketball-is-a-game-of-sacrificing-yourself-for-the-next-guy-being-a/) [David Blatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blatt/) > [You don't go into the game to compete. You go into each game to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/you-don-t-go-into-the-game-to-compete-you-go-into-each-game-to-win/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) > [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Some say love is a game except in games people lose so obviously the people who say love is a game have never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-say-love-is-a-game-except-in-games-people-lose-so-obviously-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't enjoy it ... I love the game. I can watch it all day. I can play it all day. Sometimes my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/i-don-t-enjoy-it-i-love-the-game-i-can-watch-it-all-day-i-can-play-it/) [John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/) > [You go for it. All the stops are out. Caution is to the wind, and you're battling with everything you have. That's the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-dierdorf/you-go-for-it-all-the-stops-are-out-caution-is-to-the-wind-and-you-re/) [Dan Dierdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-dierdorf/) > [Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/be-true-to-the-game-because-the-game-will-be-true-to-you-if-you-try/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I'm pretty much game for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/i-m-pretty-much-game-for-anything/) [Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/) > [A game played with serious problems. That's what art is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schwitters/a-game-played-with-serious-problems-that-s-what-art-is/) [Kurt Schwitters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schwitters/) > [Remember one thing... you MIGHT be a player, but I AM THE GAME!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-one-thing-you-might-be-a-player-but-i-am-the-game/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[T\]he game's got to be played on the field, and that's the one day that's got to be the most important day. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-fernandez/t-he-game-s-got-to-be-played-on-the-field-and-that-s-the-one-day-that/) [Lisa Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-fernandez/) > [You got to harden yourself. Make, like, a shell around you. But not everyone can do it. If they got nothing to hang on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-higson/you-got-to-harden-yourself-make-like-a-shell-around-you-but-not/) [Charlie Higson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-higson/) ## More by Lionel Messi > [I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-want-to-concentrate-on-winning-things-with-barcelona-and-argentina/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against. Barcelona players are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-can-only-speak-from-experience-but-he-was-one-of-the-most-dangerous/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I'm lucky to be part of a team who help to make me look good, and they deserve as much of the credit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-m-lucky-to-be-part-of-a-team-who-help-to-make-me-look-good-and-they/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. I always help in any way I can, even if it's just by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/there-s-nothing-more-satisfying-than-seeing-a-happy-and-smiling-child/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I have fun like a child in the street. When the day comes when I'm not enjoying it, I will leave football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-have-fun-like-a-child-in-the-street-when-the-day-comes-when-i-m-not/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I am more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-am-more-worried-about-being-a-good-person-than-being-the-best/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [From the age of three, I played every day-morning, afternoon and night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/from-the-age-of-three-i-played-every-day-morning-afternoon-and-night/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [Being named among the best at something is special and beautiful. But if there are no titles, nothing is won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/being-named-among-the-best-at-something-is-special-and-beautiful-but/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [What's truly important is that we stay on this course. We have to keep on winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/what-s-truly-important-is-that-we-stay-on-this-course-we-have-to-keep/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I never think about the play or visualize anything. I do what comes to me at that moment. Instinct. It has always been that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-never-think-about-the-play-or-visualize-anything-i-do-what-comes-to/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I NEVER LOOK BACK AT WHAT I HAVE ACHIEVED BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. I CAN LOOK BACK AT WHAT I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-never-look-back-at-what-i-have-achieved-because-i-am-always-looking/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [Of course money takes that worry out of your life and enables you to provide for your family - but if it was playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/of-course-money-takes-that-worry-out-of-your-life-and-enables-you-to/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I will always remember that. English clubs are physical and tough, and they play strong for the whole game. But afterwards they shake hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-will-always-remember-that-english-clubs-are-physical-and-tough-and/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I've always really just liked football, and I've always devoted a lot of time to it. When I was a kid, my friends would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-ve-always-really-just-liked-football-and-i-ve-always-devoted-a-lot/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [Fatherhood changes you completely. If things didn't go my way before, I became withdrawn and didn't want to see or listen to anyone. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/fatherhood-changes-you-completely-if-things-didn-t-go-my-way-before-i/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) [Explore all 105 Lionel Messi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "You have got to love the game.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lionel Messi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/you-have-got-to-love-the-game/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/you-have-got-to-love-the-game/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/lionel-messi-4898_football_you-have-got-to-love-the-game-1078687_1078687.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have got to love the game.” — Lionel Messi", "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": "Lionel Messi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have got to love the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/you-have-got-to-love-the-game/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/you-have-got-to-love-the-game/#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 } } ] } ```