Stephen Ireland SNUBS Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as best players he’s faced
Stephen Ireland SNUBS Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best players he’s come across – as ex-Manchester City and Aston Villa midfielder names ‘very, very good’ Chelsea legend as ‘first name that comes to mind’
- Ireland believes he beat both Messi and Ronaldo when he faced them
- The 36-year-old named a Chelsea duo as the strongest players he’s come across
Former Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has sensationally denounced Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the strongest players he’s come across in his career.
The 36-year-old has played his entire career against some of the very best players in the world and has now named his strongest opponents.
However, the player he names before Ronaldo and Messi will undoubtedly surprise many.
Speak against talkSPORTIreland revealed why the generation pair are not the strongest players he has faced, as he said: ‘Lionel Messi played [against me]he was no good.
‘We won the game. I can’t say that Messi is the best player I’ve played against because my experience in that match was that he wasn’t good.
Stephen Ireland labeled both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as his toughest opponent
The former Man City midfielder believes he got the upper hand when he faced each other
Ireland named Chelsea duo Cesc Fabregas (left) and Eden Hazard (right) as ‘very good’ players
“I played Cristiano Ronaldo four or five times for Manchester City against Manchester United and we won every game we played against him.
“So it’s very hard for me to say that Ronaldo is the best player I’ve played against. I can only go by their performance against me on the day.’
Ireland continued to reveal that he has struggled with two Chelsea players, who he says are tougher opponents than both Messi and Ronaldo.
“That’s why I said Cesc Fabregas,” he said. “Every time I played against him, very well. Eden Hazard, very very good. So that’s my opinion based on that question.’
Fabregas, who plies his trade for Serie B side Como, won the Premier League alongside Hazard twice during their time together at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard left Chelsea a Premier League legend but has struggled with Real Madrid ever since, while Ronaldo and Messi have left a long-lasting legacy with several Ballon d’Ors between them.
Ireland’s admission has shocked many, with the former Stoke City midfielder adamant he hadn’t struggled against one of the world-class forwards during his playing career.