"You always have dreams when you start playing football. I’m the type of person who always wants to be the best, so it’s only natural that I dreamed one day I would come this far, and thanks to God here I am now. It’s what I’ve worked so hard for. I pushed myself and believed in myself, even in difficult times. I’ve also made it this far thanks to my team-mates, my family and my friends."

The Best FIFA Men's Player 2018 winner Luka Modric speaks in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com after the awards ceremony "Thank you, my God, for this life you gave me, family, friends and my first profession. After almost three decades dedicated to football, I say goodbye to my biggest dream, dream come true. I did what I most loved professionally for 20 years, and ten as a basic training. I lived intensely this dream of children, every moment, trips, victories, defeats, the review, national anthem, the walk in the tunnel, dressing room, field entrance, the soccer shoes I used, the good and bad balls, tributes I won, the stars that I played, those that admired and played and those that only played in the play, but I admire until today!"

Ronaldinho writes a farewell message after his retirement from football was confirmed in January "I have learned that the biggest stars and the greatest players are the most humble ones, the ones who respect people the most. There are three criteria: respect, humility and lucidity. My mother has always told me that to become a great football player, you must be before all a great man."

Kylian Mbappe, winner of the FIFA Young Player Award at Russia 2018, in an interview with Time Magazine “And now I get to walk out on the pitch in my hometown, and I always get goosebumps because I think, ‘This is where the greatest player in the world played. This is where Maradona played.’ With all due respect to Ronaldo, now that I am older, and I know my history, I have to repent and say that Maradona is the greatest who ever lived. Mr. Ronaldo, you had great boots. You were a genius. You were my inspiration. But I am a Neapolitan, and so I have to say that there is only one king, and his name is Diego.”

Lorenzo Insigne writes about his football idol in The Players’ Tribune

On Saturday 5 May, the football world was rocked by the news that Sir Alex Ferguson had undergone surgery for a brain haemorrhage.



Since then, the most successful manager in English football history has battled in a way only he knows how.



Today, we bring you a special message. pic.twitter.com/NgGejgM46e — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 26, 2018

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson records a video to thank friends, family and the world football community for support while he underwent surgery for a brain haemorrhage

Leicester City pay tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh​a at the King Power Stadium

"Wherever you are now, keep on defending our goal and enlighten the right path for us from the backline. Oh captain, my captain. Forever, my captain."

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Saponara says farewell to the late Davide Astori "After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support forever."

Arsene Wenger on leaving Arsenal after 22 years as manager in a written statement on the club's official website “With Mbappe we joke and often laugh together, he always tells me: 'Never in my life could I have imagined playing one day with you?' He saw me play in the 2006 World Cup [Final] against France, when he was a boy. I faced him in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2017. In Turin I left my teammates who were also champions and I found new ones here in Paris: they too are champions."

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on Kylian Mbappe, in conversation with France Football "In the end, football is a long trip. You win. You lose. You embarrass yourself. You make mistakes. You laugh, you cry. You do dumb things to pass the time. Maybe you and your teammates even set an assistant coach’s motorcycle on fire (before buying him a brand new one, of course … I’ll leave that story for another time!) Hopefully, you grow from a boy to a man. This is what makes sports beautiful, for me. It’s all just one long story."

Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique writes in The Players' Tribune "It was one of the most poignant moments of the night. To receive applause from a stadium like this, which has been graced by great players, is a unique experience. When I was a kid, I liked Juventus and the fact that their fans have clapped me will stay with me."

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after being applauded by Juventus's supporters in Turin after scoring with a bicycle kick in Real Madrid's 3-0 win in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, first leg

WORMS? | Is Sean Dyche the @BearGrylls of football management...? 🤔😅 pic.twitter.com/57nvdKGgGS — Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 18, 2018

Burnley manager Sean Dyche shares a lesser-known anecdote from his playing days

"This kind of offer you do not refuse. It will be my honour to come to Croatia. After the match, I feel connected with your country and I was supporting you in the World Cup final."

AFP photographer Yuri Cortez accepts an invitation by the Croatia National Tourist Board (HTZ) to visit the country after he captured Croatia's goal celebrations in their semi-final win over England at Russia 2018 while being crushed by Mario Mandzukic and his team-mates

Paul Pogba’s pre-World Cup final motivational speech. What a leader pic.twitter.com/II4Uy2f8Nu — Futhead (@Futhead) July 18, 2018

France midfielder Paul Pogba gives a pre-match speech in the Luzhniki Stadium dressing room ahead of France's 4-2 victory over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup™ Final in Moscow in footage recorded by TF1 "After a match like that it doesn’t really sink in. Believe me though: I’ll be the first to buy the jersey with the two stars."

France forward Antoine Griezmann after winning the FIFA World Cup™

Nobody does an interview quite like Carlos Carvalhal.



Here are some of his best bits.



🎥 @BBCSportWales pic.twitter.com/PIJlMTtNmO — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 18, 2018

Carlos Carvalhal brought a lot of colour to his interviews during his time at Swansea City