As one of the top 20 goalscorers in Premier League history, Jermaine Defoe has been one of the most prolific strikers to ever play in the English top flight. He might not get the recognition he deserves, but the former Tottenham Hotspur man was a phenom in front of goal and never had trouble sticking the ball in the back of the net.
Despite his small frame, he was a menace on the football pitch. His combination of blistering pace and excellent timing made him a nightmare for defenders to deal with. He would regularly lose his man and break through the backline. That doesn't mean he didn't come up against some tough tasks throughout his career.
For the majority of his time in football, Defoe played in the Premier League and he came up against some of the best defenders in the world as a result. One stood out to the striker, though, and he named a former Manchester United defender as the toughest opponent of his career.
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Jermaine Defoe Called Rio Ferdinand the Toughest Opponent of His Career
He described him as aggressive and fast
During Defoe's time in the Premier League, he had to face off against some of the best defenders in football. He battled with the likes of Jamie Carragher, Nemanja Vidic and John Terry. During an appearance on the Sport Psych Show, Defoe was tasked with naming the toughest opponent of his career and after initially praising Terry, he ultimately named Rio Ferdinand. The former centre-back spent the majority of his career at Manchester United, winning just about everything there was to win and he's still regarded as one of the best defenders in Premier League history. He played 504 games in the top flight during his career.
Speaking about Ferdinand on the Sport Psych Show, Defoe said:
"I'd probably pick Rio [Ferdinand] because I just felt like Rio was quick and he was quick over five yards. I think naturally he was quite athletic as a centre-half. I just felt like he had everything. He was quick, he could read the game and he was aggressive. I just felt like, especially when he had the partnership with [Nemanja] Vidic, it was tough playing against him."
The two did battle on many occasions in the English top flight, but they also had the chance to play alongside one another at the beginning of their careers with West Ham United and later on in the England national team. Considering how tough he found competing against Ferdinand, it's safe to assume Defoe much preferred playing with him.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 05/07/2025