• “How do you describe magic? How do you describe this? It’s virtually impossible. Roman applauds, the ball’s dished off for Tevez, Tevez is begging for it back, Messi sees, I see you, mate, I don’t need you, watch it, perfect pass by Tevez, Tevez is on for the square ball for the tap in, Lionel says no, I fancy a little bit of Roman in the night. He picks one out of Riquelme’s genius book. Messi produces the rainbow and there’s a pot of gold at the end of it, that is absolutely pure class in a glass.”
  • “It’s Riquelme, man, it’ll always be Riquelme … Heinze jumps up like Rudolf Nureyev, beautiful, stabs it home but it’s Riquelme, man, it looks impossible like pouring a pint of beer into a shot glass, not for Riquelme, magic.”
  • “A concerto goal by Lionel. Sweet, sweet music …”

  • “A concert pianist, with his feet.”

  • “The rhapsody of football continues. Even when they’re penalties, they’re painted with a beautiful stroke of genius. It’s framed beautifully by the goal and the Picasso of modern football that sees things in a different dimension to the mere humans. He lives not in the tactical book, not in anything that is painted from A to B, Riquelme doesn’t live there, don’t look for him with the simplicity of football because he’s an expressionist even on his penalty kicks.”

  • “The two heroes that are going to have the showdown like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral …”

  • “They were on the same side, weren’t they? Never mind …”

  • “Matador. Look at him, so languid, look at him walking. He’s like a big, beautiful zombie, Riquelme, like a big, beautiful zombie. He just strolls around languid like, like smoke off a cigarette, you know. And then he jump out and just draw your blood.”

  • “Tidal wave, Rubik’s cube football by the albiceleste.”
  • Phil to Raymond… “Dangerous play … or would that be way too harsh?
  • Raymond to Phil… “I’ll punch you.”