Javier Mascherano Quotes

Lionel Messi is a role model for everyone, including me.

One of the best things if you are a football player is to see the faces of the kids, when they see you and are dreaming of being like you one day. That's a big responsibility, to be a good image for those kids. A football player is more than just a football player.

Iniesta is my ideal player. I've watched him throughout my career and hoped to be like him. It's fun to watch him play and that's the kind of football I'd like to play.

Growing up, John Terry was my obvious idol. I based my whole game on him.

It's just such an honour to be spoken about by Steven Gerrard in such a way, that I might also become such a great player for Liverpool. He is an icon, one of my personal football heroes.

Cavani has been a historical figure for PSG. He's scored so many goals. He's a winner; he's a leader. He's very much respected in France as a player but also as a man because of his values.

When you think of Peyton Manning, you think 'ambassador.' The game has grown exponentially during his career because of him and what he means to our game, not only as a football player but as a humanitarian.

The one player I have looked up to since I was a kid is Ryan Giggs.

As a kid, I looked up to Gazza, and to Wayne Rooney because he came through at Everton. Zidane has been one of my favourite players and I was always watching videos of him.

I want to be the complete midfielder, someone who can defend and attack. Steven Gerrard is someone who's done that very well over the years, and he is someone I am trying to emulate.

Mourinho is a winner and will remain a winner.

I have a great deal of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson. He has done a great job. Without any doubt, he is one of the best and most influential around. He is the embodiment of football.

Del Piero is a player who I have always enjoyed watching. Del Piero has been an inspiration for me throughout my career.

CR7 is a model to all footballers.

Vidic was a great player and one of the players where I look to be similar because he had a great career.

When I was young, I looked up to Andriy Shevchenko. He was so elegant, and on the pitch as well.

People like Paul Scholes were in my way at United - what are you going to do with that? You just look at him as an idol. I have watched him since I was a little kid. I couldn't have had a much better teacher.

Zidane was an idol for me, I grew up watching him play. He always asks me to come out playing the ball and that I don't just sit deep.

They called me Little Milla. He was one of the best in the world, not just in Africa. A lot of us think he did not win the best player in the world award just because he was African. It was an honour to have the name - he was an inspiration.

Growing up, you watch players like Ronaldinho playing in World Cups, doing the business, and you idolise these people.

Steven Gerrard was someone I looked up to massively. I'd always try to copy him, right down to the boots he was wearing. It was his attitude on the pitch that stood out - you could really see how much he hated losing.

Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.

Balotelli is not my role model. I like him as a player very much, and he is very talented. He could have been at the very top, but my style does not have anything with him.

They need a role model. They need a star!

Give me someone I can look up to, show me someone I can love.