Ronaldo: Ashley Cole my toughest opponent ever

Cristiano Ronaldo has named former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole as the toughest opponent he’s faced throughout his career.

Ronaldo, who left Manchester United to join Real Madrid for £80million in 2009, frequently came up against Cole during his six-year spell in English football.

Cole controversially left Arsenal for Chelsea in 2006, and was a key part of the Blues side that regularly tussled with United for the Premier League title.

And Ronaldo, despite plying his trade in La Liga for the past seven years, has admitted Cole was his trickiest opponent.

“Over the years I had some great battles with Ashley Cole, he does not give you a second to breathe,” Ronaldo told Coach Mag.

“He was such a tenacious player when he was at his peak, quick, tough in the tackle. You knew it would never be an easy game.”

The Portugal international won the league title three times with United, and also won the Champions League in 2008 – beating Cole’s Chelsea in the final.

Cole was also part of the Arsenal side that lost out on the FA Cup to Ronaldo’s United in 2004, losing the semi-final 1-0 at Villa Park to a Paul Scholes winner.

That was during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club, with the Scot signing Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon as a replacement for David Beckham in 2003.

Ferguson retired a decade later but Ronaldo admitted he’s still grateful for all his former boss did for him during his time in Manchester.

“I do see Sir Alex Ferguson as a father figure,” Ronaldo added.

“All my coaches have been important, but when I arrived at Real Madrid I was a man, when I arrived at Manchester United I was a boy.

“All of a sudden you are at one of the biggest clubs in the world, and at that time I needed somebody like Sir Alex.”

Ronaldo also opened up on his battles with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Messi and Ronaldo have shared the prestigious Ballon d’Or award between them for the past eight years in a rivalry dating back to the former United player’s time in England.

And the 31-year-old has played down their rivalry by admitting he has great respect for his biggest rival.

“There is a big mutual respect between myself and Lionel Messi,” Ronaldo said.

“The media like to make out like we have this big rivalry, but we don’t.

“It is not like we are good friends, but there is a mutual respect on both sides.”

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