Olaleye Idowu
Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has named Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as his toughest opponents, having faced them in their prime.
Cole played against Ronaldo in the Premier League, during the Portugal captain’s first spell at Manchester United between 2003 and 2009.
Then he came up against Messi in the Champions League while with Chelsea.
While answering questions from fans on Monday Night Football, Cole was asked who was a tougher opponent between Ronaldo and Messi.
He replied: “It has to be Messi.
“People talk about Ronaldo more because I played against him more.
“But I think to mark Messi, on his day… he was just too good for me.
“But, again, he’s never scored [against me].”