A smile is better when you win.

The words of Unai Emery are brief, yet they carry the weight of deep human experience: “A smile is better when you win.” At first glance, they may seem simple, a mere reflection of victory’s joy. But beneath them lies a wisdom forged in the fires of competition, in the long road of preparation, in the agony of defeat and the ecstasy of triumph. For the smile of victory is not the smile of ease; it is the smile born of struggle, of sacrifice, of enduring the storm and emerging into sunlight.

This teaching reminds us that not all smiles are alike. A smile in times of comfort is pleasant, but fleeting. A smile after toil, when sweat has drenched the brow and the heart has been tested, carries a weight that endures. Winning here does not only mean the scoreboard’s verdict—it means overcoming oneself, mastering fear, persisting when the world whispers surrender. That is why, as Emery says, the smile after winning is better. It is not shallow—it is earned.

History offers countless echoes of this truth. Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years imprisoned under the weight of injustice. When he emerged, not broken but unbowed, he did not scowl with vengeance; he smiled with forgiveness. That smile was no ordinary gesture—it was the smile of a man who had endured, who had won not only freedom for himself, but dignity for his people. His smile was better because it was born of victory over hatred, over despair, over the temptation to answer cruelty with cruelty.

Emery also reminds us that life itself is an arena. In sport, in work, in love, in the quiet trials of each day, we are always fighting battles, visible and invisible. And though we may carry smiles in ordinary moments, the ones that come after hard-won triumph burn brighter, for they remind us that the struggle was not in vain. They are the smiles of the farmer when the harvest is gathered, the student when knowledge is mastered, the soldier when peace is restored. These are the smiles that strengthen the soul and inspire others to endure their own trials.

Yet there is a deeper layer still: the recognition that the smile of victory is not only for oneself, but for those who journeyed with you. In football, a coach’s smile reflects the sweat of his players, the roar of his supporters, the unseen labors of countless hands. In life, our victories are rarely solitary. When you win, your smile becomes a gift, a beacon to those who have stood beside you, reminding them that their sacrifices too were worthwhile. Thus, the smile after winning binds community together.

The lesson we must take is clear: do not seek only the easy smile of comfort, but strive for the deeper smile of victory. Let your hardships refine you. Let your defeats prepare you. Let your effort be unceasing, so that when triumph comes—be it small or great—your smile will carry the power of all you endured. That smile will not only warm your own heart but will inspire the hearts of those who witness it.

Practically, this means embracing the discipline of persistence. Work hard toward your goals, no matter how distant. Do not despair in the face of setbacks, for even defeats prepare the soil for future triumphs. When you do achieve your victory—whether in career, in family, in personal growth—pause and smile, knowing the value of what you have earned. Share that smile with those around you, for it carries within it the story of your journey, and it has the power to ignite hope in others.

Thus, remember the teaching of Unai Emery: a smile is better when you win. Not because victory is everything, but because the joy of triumph is woven with the threads of struggle, perseverance, and sacrifice. Seek not the hollow smile of ease, but the radiant smile of one who has endured and prevailed. For that smile, once earned, shines not only upon your own path, but upon the paths of all who follow you.