Sometimes in football you deserve to win but lose. Other times you deserve to lose or draw but you win. That is the game, and it’s why I’ve always said you should never try to...

When I wasn’t famous, I had a lot of friends, almost all of them Italian. The racism only started when I started to play football.

Even if I don’t always behave as I should, this still doesn’t explain why so many people have something against me. But you know how it is. A lot of people vent themselves by coming...

Sacrifice counts for a lot in sport. From a young age, I couldn’t do the normal things that the boys of my age get to do. Maybe you have a nice car or a nice...

You speak bad of me, I score goals.

Yes, I think I am a genius, but not a rebel.

When people talk about my business, my life, I’m really private. Maybe someone thinks I’m arrogant or something, but it’s just me.

Occasionally, you feel like the only person able to win the match. So you take all the responsibility, you do too much, and you do something bad.

People who know me, love me. People who don’t know me love me too… or they hate me.

If I go out in the street and one guy gets a picture, then someone calls the press to say Mario was there. The day after in the press, it’s, ‘Mario was there’. That’s normal,...

I turn to someone, I’m not sure, to God I think, but I never ask for anything. I would never pray to win a title; it makes no sense. I’ve never understood those who pray...

The talent God gave me is beautiful and wonderful, but it is difficult because you are always facing other people keen to judge you. There are few people with such talent, so there are few...

When I lose my temper it’s because I decide to. If I do something it’s because I want to do it.

Racism springs from ignorance.

Sometimes I dream to be alone and that nobody would talk to me. But I understand that football is really important and that everybody watches it. When you’re famous, you have to do photos or...

I would be ready to become a dad if I was with the right person. I’d like a boy, though. Because they’re in charge.

What is important for me is that the people who know me for real know Mario how he really is. People who don’t know me, they read newspapers and they watch TV. TV is made...

I want to be the strongest player in the world and score a lot of goals. To do that, I have to improve in every area.

You can’t delete racism. It’s like a cigarette. You can’t stop smoking if you don’t want to, and you can’t stop racism if people don’t want to. But I’ll do everything I can to help.

When I decide to score, I score. I know I am strong, but I believe it is not enough yet. I can kick fine, dribble very well, but I still have to improve.

I am different – if you can find another like me, then I will buy you dinner!

It surprises me how much children like me, you know? If they look at me as an example, I have a big responsibility.

They say that abandonment is a wound that never heals. I say only that an abandoned child never forgets.

America is a great country. I’ve been in the south, in the center and in the north. I like it. Americans are very good people. There’s just too much air-conditioning.

Many stories are invented about me – too many stories; almost everyone uses me, and I’d say about 0.01 percent of the gossip is true.

To play in atmospheres that are intense is when I play my best football.

There are two metaphors for Mario the person and not Mario the footballer. I think I am a man, but I don’t believe I need to say it. But I could also be Peter Pan...

I always wanted to play for AC Milan or Real Madrid. Real Madrid, of course, because when I was young, the players that played there were the top players. I was looking at Real Madrid...

Inside me I’m Ghanaian, and I’m proud to be African. But of course I’m Italian. I was born in Italy. I’ve never been to Africa in my life, but I will go one day.

For me, my mother is everything.

My public image is absolutely not a fair reflection of who I am.

I don’t like to talk much, even when people speak bad about me. Inside me, I say, ‘Why do they have to think of me that way?’ But I know how I am. My objective...

I have my life, my world. I do what I want, without annoying anyone.

I believe I am more intelligent than the average person.

I know I have a responsibility as a role model to children and I try to fulfill that.

I know some players like being the centre of attention and I admit that when I first became a player I liked fame, too. But that feeling lasted only for three months. Then I realised...

I am proud to be Italian because I was born in Italy, I grew up in Italy, I went to school in Italy and I have worked in Italy. I’m Italian.

I don’t like golf. It’s not for me, it’s too quiet.

If I buy a Fiat Uno, I’ll read that, for a man like me, a Ferrari was more suitable. If instead I buy a Ferrari, they’ll write that I should have kept my feet on...

Is instinct in the head or in the heart? Off the field, I follow my good instincts which steer me in the right direction. Sometimes on the field my head leads me astray. That’s what...

I don’t follow politics; it doesn’t interest me. So why should I vote?

I don’t like journalists and I hardly ever talk to them.

Racist people are few, in the minority. But you can do nothing to change them. You can talk, you can do what you want, but you can’t do anything because they are just stupid people.

Manchester City, the club and the fans, they were amazing. But I’m sorry, the city wasn’t that nice. I was all the time at home, and I didn’t enjoy it. It was raining all the...