Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo drew attention to the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, having scored over 750 goals for Manchester United since his debut in 2002. The Portuguese maestro famously transferred to Man United after excelling in a friendly match against Sir Alex Ferguson’s club.
Under Fergie’s watchful eye, the prolific talisman increased in prominence after his debut in 2003, culminating in the club’s first triple and his first Balon d’Or in 2008.
During his seven years at Old Trafford, Ronaldo had the misfortune of facing some of the world’s best defenders, but there was one player who was a perennial thorn in his side.
In an interview with El Chiringuito TV in 2018, Ronaldo declared that three-time Premier League champion Ashley Cole was the toughest opponent he’d ever played.
Given that the former Real Madrid star has battled the likes of Nemanja Vidic, John Terry, and Rio Ferdinand, among others, the accusation is all the more astounding.
Despite this, Cristiano has no concerns in selecting the ex-Chelsea and Arsenal defender as his most dangerous adversary. This isn’t the first time Ronaldo has complimented Cole; he stated the same thing in a 2016 interview with Coach Magazine.
“I’ve had some fantastic clashes with Ashley Cole over the years; he doesn’t give you a second to breathe,” he remarked.
“When he was at his best, he was such a determined player, swift and tough in the tackle.” It was always going to be a difficult game.”
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