--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You always want to play with the best." description: "\"You always want to play with the best.\" — Thiago Alcantara" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg" --- # You always want to play with the best. ![“You always want to play with the best.” quote by Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg) > “You always want to play with the best.” [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing with top talent pushes personal skill boundaries and fosters competitive growth. **In simple terms:** Play with the best to improve. Key Takeaway Seek high‑level competition. Themes competition skill development team dynamics Mood inspirational strategic Type sports development When to use this quote - professional sports - coaching clinics - team building workshops Key Concepts elite training peer learning performance analysis Questions to Reflect On - How to balance competition with mentorship? - What benefits arise from diverse team levels? A Different Perspective Playing only with elites may limit leadership opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/i-just-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [I always believe, why wouldn't you want to play the best?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-always-believe-why-wouldn-t-you-want-to-play-the-best/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) > [Whoever is managing you, you want to play your best and do your best for your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dele-alli/whoever-is-managing-you-you-want-to-play-your-best-and-do-your-best/) [Dele Alli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dele-alli/) > [I want to play my best, day in and day out. It's a pride thing for me. I'm going to go out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-freeney/i-want-to-play-my-best-day-in-and-day-out-it-s-a-pride-thing-for-me-i/) [Dwight Freeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-freeney/) > [I want to show I can play at my best for a whole Premier League season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-want-to-show-i-can-play-at-my-best-for-a-whole-premier-league-season/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [You want to play against the best and beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/you-want-to-play-against-the-best-and-beat-the-best/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [I want to play against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rubio/i-want-to-play-against-the-best-players-in-the-world/) [Ricky Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rubio/) > [You want to play against the best - at least I do. I want to go out there and compete against the best players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmer-fredette/you-want-to-play-against-the-best-at-least-i-do-i-want-to-go-out/) [Jimmer Fredette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmer-fredette/) > [You always want to play against the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/you-always-want-to-play-against-the-best/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [We want to play against the best in the world, nevermind Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-houghton/we-want-to-play-against-the-best-in-the-world-nevermind-europe/) [Steph Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-houghton/) > [I want to play my best tennis and see how far I can go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-goffin/i-want-to-play-my-best-tennis-and-see-how-far-i-can-go/) [David Goffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-goffin/) > [I want to play against the best to become better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/i-want-to-play-against-the-best-to-become-better/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [I rely on all Hyperice technologies to make sure I can move and play my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/i-rely-on-all-hyperice-technologies-to-make-sure-i-can-move-and-play/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [You can play football in Bayern, in Barcelona, in Manchester, in London, wherever. In the end, it's football, and you want to play with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/you-can-play-football-in-bayern-in-barcelona-in-manchester-in-london/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Every time I've played in the postseason, it's another huge accomplishment that I want to take full advantage of and go out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/every-time-i-ve-played-in-the-postseason-it-s-another-huge/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) ## More by Thiago Alcantara > [I can play in any position except goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/i-can-play-in-any-position-except-goalkeeper/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [I just want to be on top of my game, because that benefits my team-mates as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/i-just-want-to-be-on-top-of-my-game-because-that-benefits-my-team/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [For me, it's a pleasure to play football every three or four days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/for-me-it-s-a-pleasure-to-play-football-every-three-or-four-days/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [It's always complicated to play against Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/it-s-always-complicated-to-play-against-italy/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Speculating on the future serves for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/speculating-on-the-future-serves-for-nothing/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Football is global; it does not end at Barca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/football-is-global-it-does-not-end-at-barca/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [I love watching English football. It's the league I most enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/i-love-watching-english-football-it-s-the-league-i-most-enjoy/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Pep trusted me, and I felt that trust. He won a lot of things, and I learned a lot from him during his Barcelona…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/pep-trusted-me-and-i-felt-that-trust-he-won-a-lot-of-things-and-i/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Now it's up to me to prove that I can play for Barcelona and help the team to stay at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/now-it-s-up-to-me-to-prove-that-i-can-play-for-barcelona-and-help-the/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [It's a fact that Guardiola is joining Manchester City, and we have to respect that. But there is no truth in the rumours saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/it-s-a-fact-that-guardiola-is-joining-manchester-city-and-we-have-to/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Munich is a spectacular city with fantastic flair and a tremendous passion for football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/munich-is-a-spectacular-city-with-fantastic-flair-and-a-tremendous/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [I am feeling very well so long as I am out there on the pitch with my team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/i-am-feeling-very-well-so-long-as-i-am-out-there-on-the-pitch-with-my/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [It's just a coincidence that I've scored two headers. I'm not a specialist scoring headed goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/it-s-just-a-coincidence-that-i-ve-scored-two-headers-i-m-not-a/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [Being with the first team is a reward for me. I'll take the opportunity with everything I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/being-with-the-first-team-is-a-reward-for-me-i-ll-take-the/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) > [My feeling is that my body and all my things inside me - when I move, when I do everything - are Brazilian because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/my-feeling-is-that-my-body-and-all-my-things-inside-me-when-i-move/) [Thiago Alcantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) [Explore all 53 Thiago Alcantara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You always want to play with the best.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thiago Alcantara" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fac/thiago-alcantara-12830_always_you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best-16_1654507.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You always want to play with the best.” — Thiago Alcantara", "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": "Thiago Alcantara", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-alcantara/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You always want to play with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-alcantara/you-always-want-to-play-with-the-best/#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 } } ] } ```