--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't dream about becoming a…" description: "\"I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed about becoming the best in the world.\" — Sadio Mane" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg" --- # I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed… ![“I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed about becoming the best in the world.” quote by Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg) > “I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed about becoming the best in the world.” [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal ambition focused on being the best globally, not merely professional status. **In simple terms:** Aim for world‑class excellence. Key Takeaway Set goals to become top in your field. Themes ambition excellence goal‑setting Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - athletic training - career planning - skill mastery Key Concepts self‑actualization competitive drive Questions to Reflect On - What does being the best mean to you? - How will you maintain wellbeing while pursuing excellence? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can cause burnout; balance is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Becoming the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-the-best/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When I was five, 10, 15 years old, I always dreamed of being in the best league in the world, playing with some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-silva/when-i-was-five-10-15-years-old-i-always-dreamed-of-being-in-the-best/) [Bernardo Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-silva/) > [I always dreamed that I'd be a singer. I didn't dream about being a star or anything. I just knew I wanted to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-pagano/i-always-dreamed-that-i-d-be-a-singer-i-didn-t-dream-about-being-a/) Lindsay Pagano > [I want young girls to dream about being professional soccer players instead of just watching the boys go out and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-want-young-girls-to-dream-about-being-professional-soccer-players/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [I never dreamed about being an actor, because that was out of reach. Coming from a small town that was big in farming, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herschel-walker/i-never-dreamed-about-being-an-actor-because-that-was-out-of-reach/) [Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/) > [I did always dream of being a professional player. I think every kid does dream of being a pro, but to last the journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-stosur/i-did-always-dream-of-being-a-professional-player-i-think-every-kid/) [Samantha Stosur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-stosur/) > [My dream was always to be a professional athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-marie/my-dream-was-always-to-be-a-professional-athlete/) [Eva Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-marie/) > [Sometimes I'll dream that I saw a show and then I'll wake up in the morning and realize that I didn't see the show,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/sometimes-i-ll-dream-that-i-saw-a-show-and-then-i-ll-wake-up-in-the/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [“She slept a lot and didn't dream, and on most occasions she was sorry to wake up. Everything disappeared when she was asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/she-slept-a-lot-and-didn-t-dream-and-on-most-occasions-she-was-sorry/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When I thought of my husband, I didn’t dream in color, I dreamt in character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/when-i-thought-of-my-husband-i-didn-t-dream-in-color-i-dreamt-in/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [My parents didn't get to have a dream. Their dream was to live in a country where their kids would have choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-marie-tran/my-parents-didn-t-get-to-have-a-dream-their-dream-was-to-live-in-a/) [Kelly Marie Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-marie-tran/) > [Growing up, I didn't dream of being nothing, of living in the ghetto my whole life. I wanted to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/growing-up-i-didn-t-dream-of-being-nothing-of-living-in-the-ghetto-my/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Unlike most kids in Japan, I didn't have a dream. I wasn't ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetaka-miyazaki/unlike-most-kids-in-japan-i-didn-t-have-a-dream-i-wasn-t-ambitious/) [Hidetaka Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetaka-miyazaki/) > [I didn't dream of playing college or playing in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-didn-t-dream-of-playing-college-or-playing-in-the-nba/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [There couldn't be a society of people who didn't dream. They'd be dead in two weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/there-couldn-t-be-a-society-of-people-who-didn-t-dream-they-d-be-dead/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [For years, I thought I simply didn't dream. I felt left out. Everybody else had a thing I didn't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/for-years-i-thought-i-simply-didn-t-dream-i-felt-left-out-everybody/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) ## More by Sadio Mane > [Sometimes it is difficult to play against teams who just drop back and try to defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/sometimes-it-is-difficult-to-play-against-teams-who-just-drop-back/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [We are Liverpool, we are strong, and we can beat any team in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/we-are-liverpool-we-are-strong-and-we-can-beat-any-team-in-the-world/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [This is something you have to accept in football. Someone will say you are overpriced, but I did not think about it. Maybe I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/this-is-something-you-have-to-accept-in-football-someone-will-say-you/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [Jurgen Klopp is like my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/jurgen-klopp-is-like-my-father/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [I was a very good dribbler as a young player, but now that I've got more experience, there are some useless things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-was-a-very-good-dribbler-as-a-young-player-but-now-that-i-ve-got/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [Honestly, I don't know the word 'pressure,' because football is my job. I always enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/honestly-i-don-t-know-the-word-pressure-because-football-is-my-job-i/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [I was a Barcelona fan. My favorite player was Ronaldinho. But I watched a lot of English football and admired lots of English teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-was-a-barcelona-fan-my-favorite-player-was-ronaldinho-but-i-watched/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-would-prefer-to-play-for-and-against-an-attacking-team-but-i-am-now/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [The first time I watched a World Cup game was in 2002. That was the first time Senegal had ever qualified for the World…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/the-first-time-i-watched-a-world-cup-game-was-in-2002-that-was-the/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [Officials are human beings, and sometimes we all make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/officials-are-human-beings-and-sometimes-we-all-make-mistakes/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [I work in the gym; twice a week, I do abdominals. It is very, very important. I do quick sessions, as I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-work-in-the-gym-twice-a-week-i-do-abdominals-it-is-very-very/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [If you have Real to face, you have to think about them - they are one of the best teams in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/if-you-have-real-to-face-you-have-to-think-about-them-they-are-one-of/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [It's the rival that gives you the tempo depending on who is on the ball or who a pass is played to. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/it-s-the-rival-that-gives-you-the-tempo-depending-on-who-is-on-the/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [I have a chef who cooks for me. I like to eat healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-have-a-chef-who-cooks-for-me-i-like-to-eat-healthy/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [If you want to be successful when you play, you have to be free in your mind, and that happens if you know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/if-you-want-to-be-successful-when-you-play-you-have-to-be-free-in/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) [Explore all 61 Sadio Mane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed about becoming the best in the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sadio Mane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professional-i-dreamed-about-becoming/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professional-i-dreamed-about-becoming/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/sadio-mane-11148_about_i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professi_1935393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed about becoming the best in the world.” — Sadio Mane", "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": "Sadio Mane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't dream about becoming a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professional-i-dreamed-about-becoming/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-didn-t-dream-about-becoming-a-professional-i-dreamed-about-becoming/#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 } } ] } ```