I think the more important thing for a player is to make sure that you're playing and you're playing well and playing consistently. If doesn't matter where you are.

You're seeing more players come back to MLS in their prime and the homegrown talent coming up that's of high quality. I think that game's always continuing to grow, and I'm happy to be part of that growth and come back to the league.

All you can do is put in work. That's what you can control, the effort that you put in, and that's what I'm doing.

We didn't have money put away in the bank for a college fund; soccer was our lottery ticket, our gamble.

You always want to play at the highest level possible and make the most of your career, and I felt like I did everything I could.

I see every year as a year where you've got to prove yourself.

Any point you can get is an important one.

I'll just say this one: on each my shinguards, I'll kiss them before I put them on, and I'll put the names of the people I've loved and lost to remind myself that life is short and to take advantage of the opportunity.

It's always kind of a weird thing when you come back from an injury, especially with your heart.

As I've become a professional, I just feel more pressure to produce, to score goals and get assists. I know I'm a good player, but it gives evidence of how good you are if you're able to look at how many passes you've made in a game or how many chances you create. It's in the books. It's become more about stats as I've become a professional.

In life, you're going to have things that are going to come up against you. You can either let it get to you, or you can make something happen.

That's all I'm programmed for: to keep pushing and to try to make the most of my career and my life, to take care of my family.

With the national team, you never know how long you've got, so you always have to be pushing and making the most of it.

At certain times during your career, at different ages, you feel better than others.

I've always put pressure on myself to perform well.

When you see that your kids are proud of you, that they're excited to wear your jersey and cheer you on, it doesn't get better.

You always have to stay motivated and try to make the most of where you're at.

Every year is a roller coaster. I've enjoyed the struggle of having new coaches and having to prove myself over again. Being able to figure out ways to solve problems, to overcome obstacles - that's been fun.

I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain sometimes, because sometimes you feel like you have to be someone that you're not.

I liked rap from a young age, from listening to MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

I like trying to be creative.

I love soccer. That's my passion. That's what I make a living doing.

You always wanna make sure that you're not burnt out. But I feel like I've been able to find the right balance of still staying fresh in games and still being able to be productive.

When the team plays better, individuals play better as well.

When you come in with the national team, there's an adjustment period. Sometimes you don't have time to adjust.

Saying you shouldn't miss a beat is easier said than done.

It's an honor, it's a privilege to be able to be one of the guys leading your country out, especially in a World Cup. It's something that you'll be able to tell your grandkids about.

If I feel compelled or feel that I really need to say something at a certain time, I'll say it. But more do than not; I'm trying to lead by example.

My parents worked very hard for everything that they got. Their parents worked hard. It's just something that is passed down to you, and whatever you want to accomplish, you have to work hard to get it, and that's always been that mentality that my family has, and I think that's something that was passed on to me.

For soccer, it was Diego Maradona, and then another idol for me was Michael Jordan. To see them play and how that they could impact the game was pretty special.

I've always been a competitive person, wanted to be on the field.

It was frustrating when the managers would change; you'd go to the bench and try to work your way back into the team. But it makes you stronger.

The Cottage was one of my favourite stadiums to play in. It was such an intimate atmosphere, and I've just got so many great memories of playing there.

I remember, growing up, losing a sister, and - life is short. Make the most of your opportunities.

I'm at peace with what I've been able to accomplish, not only domestically but abroad, and what I was able to do on the international level.

At the end of the day, everybody has the right to choose their own path in their career.

Anytime you get good service to the box, it's always great as an attacking player because it gives you more opportunities to score.

You know me: I'm a fighter.

I didn't get started until late. I didn't get started until I was 20. I turned 21 in my first MLS season, in March. It's always been a race against time, really, for me. It's kind of my mentality, to make up for lost time.

I want to do something really special in my life.

Just being in Europe was a grind.

I went through five different coaching changes at Fulham.

You can be on a good team and not play at all.

I grew up with the South American style of toca-toca.

There's always room for quality players in a team. The trick as a manager is to figure out how to bring the best out of your team.

When people ask me what club I supported growing up, I didn't really watch club soccer. The only channels I got had World Cups and the Copa America, so I gravitated toward the Latin American, South American style of game.

I like scoring against everybody.

Any goal is a good goal.

The players you really feel bad for are the younger players, who haven't had a chance to experience playing in a World Cup.

I've played in a lot of important games in my life.