Gerrard has paved the way for a new controversy about Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup as the former England captain named the Portuguese player as the toughest player he had to overcome in football’s biggest arena.
In his recent comments, Steven Gerrard admitted he had been in a situation similar to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, in a quarter-final clash between England and Portugal in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. That is one of the most violent games of his internationals.
“Ronaldo was very much a threat all day,” Gerrard said. His dribbling, speed and ability to put himself in the right position to see opportunities was making it difficult for England to keep control on the ball. He proved to be too much for even seasoned players such as Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves for 120 minutes.
The bout ended up in penalties, though, with Portugal claiming victory. The goal was not the only thing that mattered, though, for Gerrard. He mentioned the impact Ronaldo had on the game with just his presence. England’s defense had to react swiftly to his every pass.
This is the time when Ronaldo is getting ready to make history. The Portuguese attacking midfielder will be competing in his sixth FIFA World Cup – a record in men’s football. Lionel Messi is also likely to equal Argentina’s record, further fueling the ongoing rivalry between the two legends.
Gerrard admitted that many football fans make comparisons among Ronaldo and Messi when it comes to the best players. However, from his own experience of playing in the World Cup, Ronaldo was the most difficult player to play against.
The comments provide a rare player level perspective into the echelons of footballers’ under pressure thoughts on each other. It also serves as a reminder to fans that greatness can often be felt more than measured by performance on the field.
