Alphonso Davies

“I am really excited to be called into Canada Soccer's men's national team.”

“When I signed that USL contract, my perspective changed on me being a professional footballer. That was my goal ever since I was young. I never thought I could achieve it, but that's when it clicked in my head that I can really go far in the sport.”

“We came to a great country like Canada that took us in, which is amazing looking back at it. At that time, I didn't know if I wanted to play soccer or not. I didn't know what I was supposed to do with my life, but once I came to Canada and started watching it on TV, my dad and brother played and watching them play, I wanted to do that too.”

“Tremendous respect to hockey players. It's not easy every day, going out and getting hit, especially the goalies with all that padding on, that small puck, trying to track it - hand-eye co-ordination is a must. They're some amazing athletes.”

“I'm really happy that I've got the Champions League medal around my neck and the trophy sat by my side.”

“There's people out there, Canadians out there, that have high expectations for me, but I mean, I'm still a kid, still trying to learn the game. I'm just trying to develop my skills as much as possible.”

“I enjoyed every moment of being at school. Football doesn't last for ever, so you need an education longer term.”

“Don't give up, no matter how hard it is. Things are going to be tough down the road, but the more work you put in, the more achievement you're going to get out of it.”

“I thought it was a little ankle sprain, but it was a little more than that. The road to recovery was tough, but I knew that I had to fight. I couldn't be disappointed, I couldn't be sad, I just had to get up and keep the smile on my face and get back. In the sport I play, injuries are part of it.”

“We went through tough times when I was very young and I'm so infinitely grateful to my parents. Their journey began during the civil war in Liberia and we came to Canada via Ghana. I'm in the happy situation where I can say I can enjoy every single day of my life.”

“I arrived in Europe with so many dreams and already Bayern have helped me achieve many of them.”

“Canada welcomed me and my family and I am grateful for the opportunity to realize my dream of being a professional football player and representing Canada on the world stage.”

“Gareth Bale is an absolutely fantastic player who has achieved so much and won many trophies.”

“When I was younger Canada took me in. Being able to represent my country in a World Cup would be an amazing experience.”

“I experienced that the ball is the most important thing. When you have the ball, the other team really can't do anything.”

“You might have read some stuff about me sometime in the last few years. Like when I was 15: Davies becomes second-youngest player to play in MLS. Or when I was 17: Davies makes record-breaking transfer to Bayern Munich. I guess it must have looked like I was always going to make it. But that's not how it was. Or at least that's not how it felt.”

“I just want to show my speed and my skills as a left back and it's a position where I can go forward and come back as well and help the team both defending and attacking.”

“As a former refugee myself, I am very grateful for the help my family received and the opportunities this opened up for me and where it has brought me.”

“I don't think I have a specific favorite moment in 2020, I think everything that came with 2020 was amazing.”

“I have a good supporting staff around me and good teammates encouraging me every single day to perform on the field and to perform in training and I set high standards for myself as well knowing that Bayern Munich is one of the best teams in the world.”