I just want to entertain and make people enjoy the game and

The words of Dimitar Berbatov carry the heart of an artist disguised as an athlete: “I just want to entertain and make people enjoy the game and smile.” In these words, the Bulgarian striker reveals a truth that goes beyond sport. Football, to him, was not only a contest of goals and victories, but a stage upon which beauty could be shown, joy could be shared, and the hearts of many could be lifted. It is the philosophy of one who sees the game not as a war to be won but as a song to be sung for the delight of others.

To entertain is no small task. It is to step into the arena not only with skill but with generosity, offering one’s labor and art for the enjoyment of those who watch. This echoes the wisdom of the ancients, for the Greeks spoke of the stage and the stadium as places where the spirit of man was revealed in its fullness. The athlete and the actor alike did not live only for themselves, but for the people whose hearts they moved. Berbatov’s calm touch, his elegance on the ball, his refusal to rush, all carried this ancient lesson: that beauty and artistry can be as important as brute victory.

He speaks too of making people smile, a goal greater than scoring alone. For a smile is not merely amusement—it is release, it is healing, it is communion. When a player brings joy to the spectators, he has given them a gift that lingers beyond the ninety minutes. Consider the example of Ronaldinho, whose dazzling tricks and constant grin turned stadiums into festivals. Like Berbatov, he understood that football is not only a job but a performance, a celebration of life itself. Those who watched him did not merely count goals; they carried home laughter, amazement, and delight.

The origin of such a philosophy lies deep in the nature of games themselves. In every culture, play has been a sacred act. Children chase each other, tribes dance in circles, nations cheer in arenas—not because survival depends upon it, but because the spirit yearns for joy. Berbatov’s quote reminds us of this eternal truth: that beyond the competition, beyond the trophies, the game exists to bring happiness. To make people smile is to return the game to its highest purpose.

Yet this vision requires courage, for not all value beauty over victory. Many critics judged Berbatov for his style—calm, unhurried, even languid. They mistook serenity for laziness, art for arrogance. But he remained steadfast in his philosophy: football, like life, is not only about rushing to the finish but about savoring the journey. To entertain while competing is to serve both the spirit and the scoreboard, a balance that only the truly wise attempt to hold.

The lesson for us is clear: in whatever field we labor, let us strive not only to achieve but also to uplift. The work of our hands should not be only for our own advancement but also for the joy of others. Whether in sport, in art, in teaching, or in daily kindness, we hold the power to make people smile. And that smile, born of sincerity, is a victory greater than gold, for it nourishes both giver and receiver alike.

Practically, this means embracing the artistry of your life. Do not rush so quickly toward goals that you forget to bring joy along the way. When you work, let it be done with grace. When you achieve, let it inspire. And when you play—whether on the field or in the everyday moments of life—remember that the greatest gift you can give is not only success, but the smile of those who share the journey with you.

Thus, let us carry forth the teaching of Dimitar Berbatov: live not only to win, but to entertain, to inspire, to make others smile. For the joy you give will outlast the trophies you lift, and the laughter you spark will echo longer than the roar of victory. To live this way is to be more than a player in the game of life—it is to be an artist of joy, a servant of beauty, and a bringer of light to the hearts of many.