When Cristiano Ronaldo Named Toughest Opponent He Has Faced in His Career

When Cristiano Ronaldo Named Toughest Opponent He Has Faced in His Career

  • Cristiano Ronaldo recently named the toughest opponent he faced in his long and successful football career
  • Carles Puyol, Ashley Cole, Giorgio Chiellini, Diego Godin, and John Terry are some of the defenders he has faced
  • The 39-year-old Al-Nassr striker has scored over 900 goals in his career and won many trophies across Europe

Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing at the highest level for two decades and has come up against some of the toughest defenders.

The Portugal legend earned his stripes in the Premier League, going toe to toe with some of the most physical players.

The Al-Nassr veteran recently named one player who gave him a run for his money.

Cristiano Ronaldo battled great defender when he played for Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo was, at some point in his career, unstoppable. Photo by Jasper Juinen.
Source: UGC

It is interesting that Ronaldo, who has perhaps scored the most goals in football history, has also faced some tough defenders.

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Ronaldo was an entertainer early in his career, especially at Manchester United. His elite dribbling skills left defenders on the floor and invited tough tackles.

Who is Ronaldo's toughest opponent?

Recently, the Real Madrid legend named retired Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole as one of his toughest opponents.

"Over the years I had some great battles with Ashley Cole. He does not give you a second to breathe," he said via Sportbible. He was such a tenacious player when he was at his peak, quick, tough in the tackle. You knew it would never be an easy game."

Ronaldo sat Cole down during the height of the Man United vs Arsenal rivalry. It remains one of Ronaldo's unforgettable moments in the Premier League.

The Premier League Hall of Famer, who won multiple Premier Leagues with the Blues, said Ronaldo:

"He had everything. He could dribble, he could sprint behind, he could leap and jump and head a ball, he could go inside, he could go outside," Cole said via GOAL. "So I say he always gave me nightmares...Whenever I hear his name or see his face, I always think of when he made me do the splits!"

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Top Barcelona star lauds Ronaldo, salutes him for shaping football history

Ronaldo went on to score many goals and lift countless trophies and is considered one of the GOATs.

Haaland, other stars pick Ronaldo as UCL GOAT

Briefly News also reported that several players shared their opinions on the ongoing GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the UEFA Champions League.

The two legendary figures have long dominated the competition with remarkable goals and decisive performances.

Most players, including Erling Haaland, Virgil van Dijk, and Kevin De Bruyne picked Ronaldo.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Authors:
Viginia Akinyi avatar

Viginia Akinyi (sports editor) Viginia Akinyi is the current import editor at Briefly News. She holds a B.Sc. in Communication and Public Relations from Moi University and has previously worked with Lolwe TV, Daily Nation Eldoret Bureau and SportsBrief.com. Email: viginia.akinyi@briefly.co.za