---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As you get older you play in more…"
description: "\"As you get older you play in more important games and that is when you start thinking about what will happen if you win or lose.\" — Wayne Rooney"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg"
---

#  As you get older you play in more important games and that…

![“As you get older you play in more important games and that is when you start thinking about what will happen if you win or lose.” quote by Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg)

> “As you get older you play in more important games and that is when you start thinking about what will happen if you win or lose.”

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

## About This Quote

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

As age brings higher stakes, athletes contemplate the consequences of victory or defeat, influencing their mindset and future decisions.

**In simple terms:** Maturity brings deeper reflection on outcomes.

Key Takeaway

Consider long‑term impacts of each result.

Themes

sports age pressure decision‑making

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

sports psychological

When to use this quote

- coach mentorship
- media analysis
- personal growth

Key Concepts

career trajectory psychological resilience goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you prepare for high‑stakes moments?
- What lessons guide your future choices?

A Different Perspective

Pressure may cause anxiety or over‑analysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/)

## Related quotes

> [When you are 16 there is no fear whatsoever. As you get older you play in more important games and that is when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/when-you-are-16-there-is-no-fear-whatsoever-as-you-get-older-you-play/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [When you do not play in important games, then it is a difficult situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/when-you-do-not-play-in-important-games-then-it-is-a-difficult/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [I've always been I'd rather finish games than start games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-ve-always-been-i-d-rather-finish-games-than-start-games/)

[Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/)

> [Pre-season is a lot of hard work and no player really enjoys it, but you look forward to the start of the season when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-di-matteo/pre-season-is-a-lot-of-hard-work-and-no-player-really-enjoys-it-but/)

[Roberto Di Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-di-matteo/)

> [I know a lot is going to be on our shoulders, especially the way we're starting games out. We have to start faster; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-know-a-lot-is-going-to-be-on-our-shoulders-especially-the-way-we-re/)

[Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/)

> [It's definitely more important to finish games than start games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/it-s-definitely-more-important-to-finish-games-than-start-games/)

[JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/)

> [You are not going to win many games if you start behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-root/you-are-not-going-to-win-many-games-if-you-start-behind/)

[Joe Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-root/)

> [In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-you-win-or-lose-live-or-die-and-the-difference-is-just-an/)

[Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/)

> [We can't recover the loss of Yesterday but tomorrow is ours to win or lose, make it count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/we-can-t-recover-the-loss-of-yesterday-but-tomorrow-is-ours-to-win-or/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [In life, it is important to not be afraid to put yourself out there, win or lose. It is all about the spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/in-life-it-is-important-to-not-be-afraid-to-put-yourself-out-there/)

[Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/)

> [When you win or lose, no-one dies: you win, or you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/when-you-win-or-lose-no-one-dies-you-win-or-you-lose/)

[Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/)

> [In football, you can win or lose. We always have to be together, with the same spirit we've always had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rodriguez/in-football-you-can-win-or-lose-we-always-have-to-be-together-with/)

[James Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rodriguez/)

> [We need to be behind Man United always when they win or lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/we-need-to-be-behind-man-united-always-when-they-win-or-lose/)

[Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/)

> [Win or lose, we go shopping after the election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/win-or-lose-we-go-shopping-after-the-election/)

[Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/)

> [Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/win-or-lose-or-draw-you-always-go-back-and-critique-your-performance/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

## More by Wayne Rooney

> [When I was about 16, I got my ball taken off me by the police for playing in the street - which is pathetic really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/when-i-was-about-16-i-got-my-ball-taken-off-me-by-the-police-for/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [The important thing is to be there, score when needed. It's better if the goals are beautiful, better still if they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/the-important-thing-is-to-be-there-score-when-needed-it-s-better-if/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I listen to 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Stereophonics, Arctic Monkeys; also the musical Oliver - I can sing every tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-listen-to-50-cent-jay-z-stereophonics-arctic-monkeys-also-the/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [If you look at my bookings, they've gone down each season. That's something I'm trying to keep improving. On the pitch you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/if-you-look-at-my-bookings-they-ve-gone-down-each-season-that-s/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I love football, football is my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-love-football-football-is-my-life/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [You're trying to put yourself in that moment and trying to prepare yourself, to have a 'memory before the game. I don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/you-re-trying-to-put-yourself-in-that-moment-and-trying-to-prepare/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I'll keep doing my training and I'm sure the goals will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-ll-keep-doing-my-training-and-i-m-sure-the-goals-will-come/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [Pulling on your country's shirt is the greatest honour a footballer can have. It's what I always dreamed of as a kid and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/pulling-on-your-country-s-shirt-is-the-greatest-honour-a-footballer/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I'm not really that bothered by appearance. I know a few players who go off doing stuff in the mirror ages before they go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-m-not-really-that-bothered-by-appearance-i-know-a-few-players-who/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [Some players don't like training and I've seen some players who aren't bothered if they play or not. But I want to play every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/some-players-don-t-like-training-and-i-ve-seen-some-players-who-aren/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [Those who said I'm not an out-and-out goal-scorer are probably right. I always feel I could score more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/those-who-said-i-m-not-an-out-and-out-goal-scorer-are-probably-right/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I just hate losing and that gives you an extra determination to work harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-just-hate-losing-and-that-gives-you-an-extra-determination-to-work/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [Play for the name on the front of the jersey and they will remember the name on the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/play-for-the-name-on-the-front-of-the-jersey-and-they-will-remember/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I've started doing my coaching badges, I'd like to be a manager one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-ve-started-doing-my-coaching-badges-i-d-like-to-be-a-manager-one-day/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

> [I love playing football but I am like everyone else, I hate losing and love winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-love-playing-football-but-i-am-like-everyone-else-i-hate-losing-and/)

[Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

[Explore all 73 Wayne Rooney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. 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": "As you get older you play in more important games and that is when you start thinking about what will happen if you win or lose.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wayne Rooney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-important-games-and-that-is-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-important-games-and-that-is-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/wayne-rooney-9396_about_as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-import_1225240.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As you get older you play in more important games and that is when you start thinking about what will happen…” — Wayne Rooney",
                "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": "Wayne Rooney",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As you get older you play...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-important-games-and-that-is-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/as-you-get-older-you-play-in-more-important-games-and-that-is-when/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
