Steven Gerrard played with and against some of the greatest football players of all time. The Liverpool icon lined up next to a plethora of world-class stars for club and country, while going head-to-head with the finest talents of his generation.
Competing in the Premier League for the best part of two decades as well as major tournaments for England, Gerrard rubbed shoulders with the best on the planet regularly. Historic Champions League nights even saw the midfield general dragging an otherwise average Liverpool side to memorable victories. See the 2005 final win against AC Milan.
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Steven Gerrard Named the 3 Most Skilful Players He Played With at Liverpool
Gerrard's three-man list of former Liverpool tricksters were enthralling to watch in their pomp at Anfield.
Therefore, it was always going to be an uphill task to name the outright best players he faced during an 18-year professional career. However, when asked to select his all-time five-a-side team made up of opponents, Gerrard selected Italian duo Gianluigi Buffon and Paolo Maldini before then moving onto the forward line, when he said:
"I am going to go attacking with the three best players I have played against."
Lionel Messi
'On a different level to anyone else'
First up, Gerrard decided to tackle the never-ending debate between modern-day greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Englishman opted for the latter, despite claiming both men are 'on a different level' to their competition. Gerrard was effusive in his praise for Barcelona icon Messi, saying:
"There are certain players who are on a different level to anyone else out there, Messi and Ronaldo.
"But Ronaldo doesn't get in my team. I am more about what you are going to do for the team. He will win you things but I am more about a team player than an individual player."
Zinedine Zidane
'He was a freak for me'
The second of Gerrard's best-ever foes is legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane. The pair clearly have mutual respect for each other - as shown when Zidane hailed Gerrard as the best in the world in 2009 - and it's not a shock. Zizou is, like Gerrard, one of the greatest midfielders to ever grace the turf, and his English peer waxed lyrical about the Ballon d'Or winner:
"Zidane, the stuff he could do. His legs were always in control of the ball. He used to glide. He was just a god. He was a freak for me."
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Ronaldinho
'How has he done that?'
Last, but by no means least, Gerrard included a third Ballon d'Or winner as one of the best he's ever faced. Magical Brazilian Ronaldinho is one of the most skilful players the beautiful game has ever produced. His incredible grace and ability to pull off the impossible weren't lost on Gerrard, who stated:
"Ronaldinho had a two, three year spell when he was on his own.
"He did things on a pitch where you think 'how has he done that?'"