Nikita Parris Quotes

Obviously, Thierry Henry is someone I have looked up to ever since I started playing football.

Scoring goals is nice, but I'm nowhere near Platini. I hope I can get closer to him.

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

Whenever we are en route to a game on the bus I am always watching the goals of Ronaldo, Adriano, and Neymar to get some inspiration. Then, when I am on the pitch, I try to replicate what they do.

I remember how inspiring it was to meet players like Bobby Charlton or Bryan Robson when I was a kid. I still remember Clive Allen showing up when I received a trophy for my Sunday league team.

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.

People compare me to Batistuta, and he is the player I base myself on.

Playing with Wayne Rooney was a dream come true. He's a legend and a role model to me.

My brother was the one who really gave me the desire to follow in his footsteps. Also, it was really Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, the two Brazilian players, who also inspired me to a future in football.

Growing up, David Seaman was a massive role model for me. Peter Schmeichel and him were the ones I looked up to.

I wanted to be Ronaldinho. I studied him a lot. He was my hero.

Every day I train with him I try to learn so even if it don't work out I can take something somewhere else because it's Thierry Henry. I grew up watching that guy scoring goals for Arsenal. I'm very lucky to have played with him. I just try to listen to him on the pitch, and stay close.

I would say Hope Solo is competitive.

Deacon Jones has been the most inspirational person in my football career.

As a kid, you obviously dream of being a professional footballer. I would watch players like Ronaldo of Brazil and pretend to be him in the playground. But I don't think about trying to become one of the best in the world or anything like that. I just play football.

Zidane is a Real Madrid legend. He teaches us things in every training session - even just by playing with us.

Neymar has been an idol of mine since childhood. I've always tried to mirror myself in the way he plays, and I've also tried imitating some of his haircuts.

Jamie Carragher was someone who I looked at as to how to organise, how to defend and how composed he was, how good he was at reading the games and he was one I looked up to.

I've played three seasons at Real Madrid; I've given my all. I've scored goals, I've won two leagues, and that's not easy.

Besides my father, who used to be a footballer at the local level, it is Messi for whom I started to play football.

Everyone knows what a great player, as well as a person, David Beckham is. I am just hoping that I can learn from him. I know if I want to go far in my football career I have to do as well as him.

I really like Ronaldinho. He is the player I have watched the most and tried to copy the most, but I am still learning.

Beckham was a great inspiration to me growing up.

Players like Neymar are great for football.

When I was younger, I had two players: Luke Shaw and Gareth Bale. When Shaw was at Southampton, he was a left-back, and I loved watching him bomb up and down the wing, create goals, score goals, so I think I try to emulate that. Gareth Bale - same thing, really.