"[Meeting Mandela] was the highlight of my career; to meet such a great man and a strong man and such a passionate man about sport and life will always stay with me."

"I knew it was my time to retire, when I saw Messi running past me."

"Is the Pope Catholic. No I'm serious. I really need to know."

"I've got my wife. I've got my four kids. I've got parents, grandparents still, and three really good friends. It's all you need. I'd rather have three really good friends than 20 good friends."

"I'm used to being around kids. Even when I was growing up in London, I had an older sister, I had a younger sister that I used to look after from time to time."

"Football's the biggest game in the world. America's the greatest sporting nation there is. To play some part in putting those two things together: why wouldn't I be excited about that?"

"I work out with my trainer or do an hour of pilates at 6 or 7AM. I'm done by the time my household is awake."

"Our performance during this World Cup has not been enough to progress further and both myself and all the players regret that and are hurt more than people realise."

"The game is in a neutral country for both teams."

"We're definitely going to get Brooklyn christened, but we don't know into which religion."

"No matter who our opponents are, or who we are playing against, we want to win the game."

"My new tattoo is Jesus being carried by three cherubs. Obviously the cherubs are my boys. At some point they are going to need to look after me. That's what they're doing in the picture. It means a lot."

"I've felt a little tired, but I'm only 24. I love playing football. That's my job and that's what I love doing."

"I wasn't as fit as I would of liked to have been, going to the World Cup, but I'm not sure what difference that made."

"It's one thing I like about America - they respect the sportsman. They put them up on a pedestal. They don't try to knock them down. And that's a great thing, to be respected by the whole country. It's so patriotic!"

"My secret is practice."

"This team [England] has some of the best players in England"

"It's my responsibility to walk around the hotel with a big smile on my face and not worry about what's happened in the last game."

"I still believe I have a part to play for England."

"I'm happy in Madrid, my kids are happy and my wife is happy, so everything's good. If anyone knows about contracts they take a while to sort out."

"Wayne's like my son, Brooklyn, who goes out in the garden to play and have fun."

"I showed that I wasn't just at Real Madrid to sell shirts."

"Finally, I have lived the dream. I am extremely proud to have worn the armband and been captain of England and for that I will always be grateful."

"There's room for boys' and girls' football in the world-that's what I believe."

"I haven't retired from international football - I still believe I have a part to play in the future of England."

"I'm not silly enough to think I'm going to change the whole culture ... but I do have a belief that soccer can go to a different level."

"I'm a big fan of old boots."

"As soon as I hit the ball, I know if it's in."

"Hong Kong and Macau are both very dynamic cities. I am always inspired about the culture, people and food in these two cities. There is always so much to do and so much to explore!"

"That was in the past - we're in the future now."

"Being a dad is more important than football."

"I didn't want to go there [America] at 34 years old and for people to say he's only going for the money. It's not what I'm going out there to do"

"I've got friends in the different teams I've played for, but family is the most important thing to me. That will always be the case."

"It is so great that fashion is not a question of price, and it can be more accessible to everyone interested in fashion."

"We've been asked to do 'Playboy' together, me and Victoria, as a pair. I don't think I'll ever go naked, but I'll never say never."

"Some people think that I haven't got the brains to be that clever."

"I've always been proud to represent my country, whether it be World Cups, European Championships or just friendly games, I've always been a proud person, I'm very patriotic."

"I'm a strong person, I'm a strong family man, I'm a strong husband and a strong father."

"I have come to accept that if I have a new haircut it is front page news. But having a picture of my foot on the front page of a national newspaper is a bit exceptional."

"I can play in the center, on the right and occasionally on the left side."

"I'll never forget where I'm from, never forget my roots. It doesn't matter where I live. I'm English, simple as that."

"Like any parent, I just want the best for my kids, whatever they decide to do. They will choose what path they want to follow, and we will always be there to encourage them."

"I don't think I have reached a plateau. I have just reached the level where I am today. But I need to go above it."

"I always used to go for blondes and quiet girls, but Victoria is the total opposite - dark and loud."

"As a footballer you always want to test yourself against the best."

"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country."

"I don't regret the decision to retire. My body was losing its edge. I was taking longer to recover from injuries. You have to get out at some point."

"I've heard some of Victoria's new album and it's frightening."

"I don't have time for hobbies. At the end of the day, I treat my job as a hobby. It's something I love doing."

"I don't think I'm really in a situation to complain, because I consider myself to be privileged to be doing what I do."