Kyle Walker Reveals the Four Toughest Opponents He’s Faced in His Career – And It’s Not Who You’d Expect
Kyle Walker, the Manchester City and England right-back, has had his fair share of battles on the pitch. With six Premier League titles and numerous international caps under his belt, he’s faced some of the best players in the world. But who are the four toughest opponents he’s come up against?
According to Walker, the first name on his list is Eden Hazard. The former Chelsea star was a nightmare to mark, with Walker recalling their intense battles in the Premier League. "We’ve had some good battles at Tottenham, you know, Tottenham vs. Chelsea," he said. "He was really tough to mark, and sometimes I got the better of him, sometimes he got the better of me."
Next up is Sadio Mane, the Liverpool winger who’s given Walker plenty of trouble over the years. "Again, you know, being at Manchester City, I’ve had some great rivals with Liverpool and coming up against him was always tough," Walker said. "You know, so skilful, worked really hard for the team, and also, you know, chipped in with a lot of goals, sometimes against me."
Walker then mentioned Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, two of the most exciting young players in the world. "I think it’s hard to say between them both," he said. "You know, Mbappe very, very skilful. Obviously played against him at PSG and against France in the World Cup. Vinicius Junior I think the same, very skilful young player, exciting winger, you know, with the world at his feet, so I think both of them deserve a mention, and it would be hard for me to say a top three."
It’s a surprise to see Ronaldo and Messi, two of the greatest players of all time, not make Walker’s list. However, it’s worth noting that Walker has previously spoken about the respect he has for Messi, saying he’d love to play alongside him. "I think Leo Messi because of everything Pep says about him and his prestige and influence on the field," he told FIFA. "I spoke with Alvarez about him and what he brings to the team. I played against him before and was lucky, but to play with him will be something very special."
So there you have it – Walker’s four toughest opponents in his career. Who do you think is the toughest opponent you’ve faced in your own football career? Let us know in the comments!
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