Steven Gerrard named the three toughest players that he faced during his career. The Liverpool legend, playing in a golden era of Premier League football, came up against some truly elite talents.
In his 17 years as a senior player at his boyhood club, the former England international helped fire the Reds to a Champions League title, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Cup too. He was a truly excellent player, with the great Zinedine Zidane even stating that he was "head and shoulders" above all other British players.
So when it comes to ability, Gerrard knows what it takes to reach the top. But three men left a lasting impression on him when they shared the pitch together.
Gerrard's Toughest Opponents
Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Everton.
Gerrard has come up against both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in his career, two of the greatest players of all time. And domestically, he faced off against Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes, whose names are often mentioned when deciding the best ever English midfielder.
But, despite sharing the pitch with all players on countless occasions, the ex-Liverpool midfielder snubbed all five. In an interview with ESPN, he named Claude Makelele, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira as his three biggest challenges.
"Claude Makelele, Roy Keane, and Patrick Vieira."
The trio of defensive midfielders were all known for their tough tackling. Perhaps nobody embodied that more than Keane, who was Manchester United's enforcer under Sir Alex Ferguson. Gerrard's admiration of the Irishman is well-known, with him hailing the former Red Devil as the player he wished he played with in his career.
Vieira offered just as much tenacity to Arsenal during the late 90s and 2000s. Intimidating fellow professionals and referees alike, his battles with Keane when United faced the Gunners were the stuff of legend. Gerrard faced the Frenchman on 15 separate occasions and found himself on the winning side more often than not, picking up seven wins and losing just five times.
Perhaps nobody defined the defensive midfield role more than Makelele, though. When you have a role named after you, you must be pretty special.
Although Makelele arrived in England at the age of 30, he was still a powerhouse of a player. The glue of the team alongside Lampard, his reading of the game was unparalleled, as he helped Chelsea lift two Premier League titles.
Gerrard Named Toughest of Trio in 2008
Claude Makelele (Chelsea) in action against Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Chelsea v Liverpool - FA Barclays Premiership - Stamford Bridge - 05/06 , 5/2/06 Claude Makelele - Chelsea in action against Steven Gerrard - Liverpool Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Michael Regan
Seventeen years earlier, though, Gerrard was also asked about his toughest opponent. And while he gave props to all the players he mentioned to ESPN, Makelele is the one who stood out to him.
"He's always marked me closely and always done a decent job. He may be small, but he's strong and quick and a really difficult player to play against. He would be my number one choice."
"I played against [Keane] early in my career and he was the best around at that time," Gerrard added. "He was fitter and stronger than me at that time and the impact he had on Manchester United was a real eye-opener.
"I'll never forget the FA Cup final of 2001 when [Vieira] was on a different level to everyone else."