--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was getting ready to take a free-kick…" description: "\"I was getting ready to take a free-kick in a game between Brazil and Argentina. Suddenly, I saw Messi behind me getting closer bit by bit, and he says ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/paulinho-5849_barcelona_i-was-getting-ready-to-take-a-free-kick_2938063.jpg" --- # I was getting ready to take a free-kick in a game between… ![“I was getting ready to take a free-kick in a game between Brazil and Argentina. Suddenly, I saw Messi behind me getting closer bit by bit, and he says 'are we going to Barcelona or not?' I said, 'if you want to bring me there, you can. I'll go.'” quote by Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/paulinho-5849_barcelona_i-was-getting-ready-to-take-a-free-kick_2938063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/paulinho-5849_barcelona_i-was-getting-ready-to-take-a-free-kick_2938063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/paulinho-5849_barcelona_i-was-getting-ready-to-take-a-free-kick_2938063.jpg) > “I was getting ready to take a free-kick in a game between Brazil and Argentina. Suddenly, I saw Messi behind me getting closer bit by bit, and he says 'are we going to Barcelona or not?' I said, 'if you want to bring me there, you can. I'll go.'” [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A player faced a tense moment, but responded with humor and willingness to follow a teammate’s lead. **In simple terms:** He joked and agreed to go with Messi. Key Takeaway Embrace humor and flexibility in pressure. Themes sports humor teamwork Mood lighthearted confident Type anecdotal inspirational When to use this quote - football match - team bonding - high‑pressure decisions Key Concepts leadership spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect team dynamics? A Different Perspective May humor undermine seriousness in competition? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argentina Suddenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argentina-suddenly-4365698/) [Barcelona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona/) [Barcelona Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona-said-1330101/) [Brazil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brazil/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Free Kick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-kick-775271/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Getting Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-ready/) [Going Barcelona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-barcelona-2297510/) [Messi Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messi-getting-3787211/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) ## Related quotes > [Lionel Messi, getting to meet him, you're a little star-struck in the beginning, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/lionel-messi-getting-to-meet-him-you-re-a-little-star-struck-in-the/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) > [Woody Allen, when we did Vicky Cristina Barcelona, said to Rebecca Hall, "Do it one time happy, one time sad, and one time indifferent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/woody-allen-when-we-did-vicky-cristina-barcelona-said-to-rebecca-hall/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [Before I went to Juventus, I made a final promise to the board at Barcelona. I said, 'You're going to miss me.' I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/before-i-went-to-juventus-i-made-a-final-promise-to-the-board-at/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [I bought a lifetime pass on American Airlines and had a blast. The most memorable was going to Barcelona on a whim and scalping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-bought-a-lifetime-pass-on-american-airlines-and-had-a-blast-the/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [It's not like I am going to Barcelona as a tourist who is there to watch Messi in action. I am not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenkie-de-jong/it-s-not-like-i-am-going-to-barcelona-as-a-tourist-who-is-there-to/) [Frenkie de Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenkie-de-jong/) > [I do not envisage going to Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/i-do-not-envisage-going-to-barcelona/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) > [There is absolutely no chance of me going back to Barcelona. They don't want me to, and I don't want to, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-deulofeu/there-is-absolutely-no-chance-of-me-going-back-to-barcelona-they-don/) [Gerard Deulofeu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-deulofeu/) > [Going to Barcelona is a huge opportunity and an incredible feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/going-to-barcelona-is-a-huge-opportunity-and-an-incredible-feeling/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [You should be relaxed before taking the free kick. You should have confidence in your ability and happiness that you are going to score…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/you-should-be-relaxed-before-taking-the-free-kick-you-should-have/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [It's always disappointing to score, to be fighting all the game, to find a way to break them and then with a free-kick they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/it-s-always-disappointing-to-score-to-be-fighting-all-the-game-to/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [From close range the free-kick is taken with inside of the foot. I will take a run-up of two or three steps and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/from-close-range-the-free-kick-is-taken-with-inside-of-the-foot-i/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [I remember a Greek player from Sevilla, Vassilios Tsiartas. He was the best free kick taker I have seen in my life, I think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-alonso/i-remember-a-greek-player-from-sevilla-vassilios-tsiartas-he-was-the/) [Marcos Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-alonso/) > [One rule that will work if it is used everywhere, is that when you have a free-kick, the referee puts the mark on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiano-ronaldo/one-rule-that-will-work-if-it-is-used-everywhere-is-that-when-you/) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiano-ronaldo/) > [In France, the matches are sometimes very tight, and so it is difficult to score. A free kick can unlock a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-di-maria/in-france-the-matches-are-sometimes-very-tight-and-so-it-is-difficult/) [Angel Di Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-di-maria/) > [Plan your free-kick and imagine where you need to hit the ball. Hang a T-shirt under the bar and try to hit it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/plan-your-free-kick-and-imagine-where-you-need-to-hit-the-ball-hang-a/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) ## More by Paulinho > [Never mind where you are, you have to fight until the end. It's important you never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/never-mind-where-you-are-you-have-to-fight-until-the-end-it-s/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [Playing alongside Messi is special for me. He's a player I always wanted to play with. I have played against him with Brazil, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/playing-alongside-messi-is-special-for-me-he-s-a-player-i-always/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [I am very happy that a great club like Barcelona is interested in me, as that is priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-am-very-happy-that-a-great-club-like-barcelona-is-interested-in-me/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [I have always been very calm and with all the triumphs I have had I have always been sure to thank my colleagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-have-always-been-very-calm-and-with-all-the-triumphs-i-have-had-i/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [In 2011, when I was in Corinthians, I received an offer from Russia that offered me to win 10 times more than in Brazil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/in-2011-when-i-was-in-corinthians-i-received-an-offer-from-russia/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [If you look at my career it has always been about overcoming difficulties in different places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/if-you-look-at-my-career-it-has-always-been-about-overcoming/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [When you change teams, cities or countries it's obvious there's a period of adaption, but some players can adapt quicker than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/when-you-change-teams-cities-or-countries-it-s-obvious-there-s-a/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [If you are not playing in your position in a league as competitive as England then it is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/if-you-are-not-playing-in-your-position-in-a-league-as-competitive-as/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [You are told before coming to Europe that big teams here quite often rotate players. I respect this culture but it is instinctive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/you-are-told-before-coming-to-europe-that-big-teams-here-quite-often/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [It's a great pleasure to be linked to such a great club like Tottenham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/it-s-a-great-pleasure-to-be-linked-to-such-a-great-club-like-tottenham/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [A player can make money at any team he goes to. The important thing for me is to be happy with the decision that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/a-player-can-make-money-at-any-team-he-goes-to-the-important-thing/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [Whatever the circumstances, playing alongside the best in the world is something I can tell my kids about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/whatever-the-circumstances-playing-alongside-the-best-in-the-world-is/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [It's a gift to be offered the opportunity to play the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/it-s-a-gift-to-be-offered-the-opportunity-to-play-the-world-cup/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [A good financial proposal doesn't mean you'll get to do a lot of things. There are times when you have to think about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/a-good-financial-proposal-doesn-t-mean-you-ll-get-to-do-a-lot-of/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [I promise hard work and I will do everything to help my team mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-promise-hard-work-and-i-will-do-everything-to-help-my-team-mates/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) [Explore all 100 Paulinho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) ## More Barcelona quotes > [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've played lots of games carrying an injury, but people don't value what I do for Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rivaldo/i-ve-played-lots-of-games-carrying-an-injury-but-people-don-t-value/) [Rivaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rivaldo/) > [Sometimes there's too much noise about what's happening, but this is Barcelona - it is a big club. Sometimes people make more of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-valverde/sometimes-there-s-too-much-noise-about-what-s-happening-but-this-is/) [Ernesto Valverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-valverde/) > [You never know what the future has in store, but if possible I'd like to hang up my boots at Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-alba/you-never-know-what-the-future-has-in-store-but-if-possible-i-d-like/) [Jordi Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-alba/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [Leo Messi is the best player in the world for me, but look at the others that have been at Barcelona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-for-me-but-look-at-the/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [My best has to be for Barcelona against Villarreal in 2006 - that is the one I am asked most about, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/my-best-has-to-be-for-barcelona-against-villarreal-in-2006-that-is/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [In my childhood, I always played as Barcelona on the PlayStation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/in-my-childhood-i-always-played-as-barcelona-on-the-playstation/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) > [Guardiola won so many trophies at Barcelona that he had a huge impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/guardiola-won-so-many-trophies-at-barcelona-that-he-had-a-huge-impact/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [I am very happy that a great club like Barcelona is interested in me, as that is priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-am-very-happy-that-a-great-club-like-barcelona-is-interested-in-me/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [Decisions are for the brave, and I am the bravest, deciding to leave Barcelona and Juventus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/decisions-are-for-the-brave-and-i-am-the-bravest-deciding-to-leave/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [I'm very fortunate to have worked at two unbelievable clubs, Manchester City and Barcelona, and I feel like I've really changed the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-m-very-fortunate-to-have-worked-at-two-unbelievable-clubs/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [The haunting of history is ever present in Barcelona. I see cities as organisms, as living creatures. To me, Madrid is a man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-haunting-of-history-is-ever-present-in-barcelona-i-see-cities-as/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [If Messi didn't have it clearly in his head that Barcelona have a winning project, maybe he would go, but Barcelona are always looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/if-messi-didn-t-have-it-clearly-in-his-head-that-barcelona-have-a/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [I first went to Barcelona in 1975 after university, and I stayed for three years. I learnt Catalan because that's what everyone speaks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/i-first-went-to-barcelona-in-1975-after-university-and-i-stayed-for/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) [Browse all 571 Barcelona quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barcelona/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was getting ready to take a free-kick in a game between Brazil and Argentina. Suddenly, I saw Messi behind me getting closer bit by bit, and he says 'are we going to Barcelona or not?' I said, 'if you want to bring me there, you can. 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