Essam El Hadary Quotes

When someone recognises you or wants an interview, you think, 'You know, maybe I've done something good. Maybe I have a good result.' So if you see it in that way, it becomes a lot easier, and you realise that, actually, you're there and you've succeeded because of the media, because if it wasn't for them, no one in the world would know us.

When you're a player and you win the World Cup and other titles you don't get the chance to enjoy the moment because of the media scrum. You end up getting tired of it. But when the years go by and you look back on it all, then you understand just what it is that you achieved, that we achieved.

One minute you're a developing athlete trying to get to the top, then the next minute you do well and win a medal somewhere, and then it's all foisted on you. You never know when it's going to happen. You don't think about the media side of things when you're a young athlete trying to do well.

If I could apologise and go back and change history I would do. But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world.

I don't get recognised that much yet in London, but when I do I get a real sense of achievement.

I am extremely proud and honoured to have beaten Pete's record as he was my childhood hero and I have always looked up to him.

I hoped to win a medal and hoped it would be gold. I knew I was good but didn't know I would be the one to score something that had never been done before.

Til the day I didn't play under-19 World Cup, nobody ever celebrated my birthday. And the moment I played for Indian team, my family got excited and ordered and cut a cake for me in front of 40-50 family members.

Everything I experienced in the national team was amazing. I was there for 14 years and won several titles: the Copa America, Confederations Cup and the World Cup.

To be the best in a tournament like the World Cup is a success for me personally.

Winning an official World Cup with the South African team had become my burning ambition.

I'm proud of my long career but playing in the World Cup is something special for any player. There is no limit to my ambition and I have always been determined to achieve that objective.

Winning is the most important thing at a World Cup.

It is really a great feeling to win a World Cup on your birthday.

Becoming captain of the World Cup team and winning it is something I can't express in words.

Record-breaking is not getting boring. I am definitely happy with that.

Winning a tournament at the end of the year boosts your confidence a lot.

On a personal note, reaching the World Cup would be something that no one could ever take away from me.

It's a great happiness and deep pride to equal Andre Guy's record for goals in a season.

Being a World Cup winner was a dream come true.

I have been hugely proud in terms of what I have achieved, in terms of over 60 caps, and I have captained my country on a few occasions which has been a huge honour and something I have been really proud of in my career.

I would change all my individual trophies for that trophy of World Cup champion.

When we left Mumbai to play in the World Cup there were hardly any journalists to see us off. But when we returned to India on July 25 having made the final, there were close to a hundred journalists at 2.30 in the morning. It was totally new.

I was on a high after the Under-17 World Cup, with the manager talking about me a bit.

After the World Cup, I feel more mature, more confident.