How a Soccer Game is Like Life

I love soccer. I breathe it, I live it—it’s part of who I am. Right now, I’m staring at a picture of Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho in the 2006 Champions League Final. Two of my all-time favorites. That game—Barcelona vs. Arsenal—is etched into my memory. The energy, the brilliance, the heartbreak. It was more than a match; it was a life lesson.

The more I’ve watched and studied this game, the more I realize: soccer is life. Not in some cliché way, but in a very real, very tactical way.

The work isn’t done during the match. The performance you see on the field? That’s a result of what was done before—at practice, in the film room, in the gym, in the details. It’s the same with life. Your day is your performance. But your routines—your mornings, your nights, your workouts, your journaling, your nutrition—that’s your training. That’s where the work is done.

If you don’t train, you don’t show up. You get exposed. You get tired. You lose your shape. That’s life. And then the day hits you—you get scored on. Something unexpected happens. You have to adjust your tactics. Maybe you get bad news, maybe someone throws you off, maybe you start to doubt yourself. But like any good team, you shift your formation, you move your lines higher, you make subtle adjustments—but you don’t panic. You adapt.

That’s why you need a game plan for your life. You need to know your strategy going into the day. Who are you trying to be? What are you trying to protect? What are you trying to create? And more importantly—how do you respond when you get scored on?

Because you will get scored on. You will face pressure. You will be forced to change. But if your preparation is solid, if your mind is right, your habits are strong, and your foundation is built—you’ll respond like a pro. You’ll lead. You’ll grow. You’ll find a way to win the second half.

That’s what I believe. That’s what I teach. That’s how I live. Prepare like it’s everything—because it is. Then step onto the field of life and perform.