Chelsea central defender Thiago Silva has played against many of the best in the game during his career in Brazil and with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before moving to England.
On Sunday, he will come up against Cristiano Ronaldo again, this time in the Premier League as Chelsea take on Manchester United.
Before the tie, he compared the Portugal international to the most elite players he has faced across his career, including Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Cristiano in comparison
"The small difference is that Messi, with the ball in a one-on-one or a two-on-one, is difficult to stop," the veteran analysed as he spoke to ESPN ahead of Sunday's fixture.
"With Ronaldo, I am not saying that it is easy, but one player can mark and the other can monitor - doing that gives you more security at the back.
"However, Messi and Ronaldo are both players capable of incredible things - like Neymar.
"I believe, though, that it is harder to defend against Messi than it is against Ronaldo."
Past meetings
Silva has come up against Cristiano Ronaldo four times in the past, all in meetings between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, with two draws and two wins for Ronaldo.
Sunday's fixture will pit the two up against each other in domestic league action for the first time.
EmileeSevunKolor
188
Today 🙂🙏🏾 It's Either we Beat Chelsea 😤👌🏾 Or We beat their fans, The Red Devil for life. ❣️😂😂
Dragonkai
169
I can see How easy it Was[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
STORMDC
134
I like thiago cause he speaks maturity....but some fans here will miss quote him,messi is a small man(respect to messi)with slippery body and hard to hold on to,while Ronaldo is fast and tall which gives him a slight disadvantage against players of the same height......But in the end,the two players are ones that can never be born in football again
MichaelFrolian
85
True 🐐
RäbbïHösënRömän
62
Even though I'm a CR7 fan I admit that. Now I'm gonna tell why is Messi more difficult to defend. You might not like it but it's true. Messi is a fine dribbler and his coaches always wanted him to dribble past the defense. And CR7 is good in the air and an excellent finisher inside the box or outside it. So his coaches always wanted him to win set pieces. That's the main difference here. Once CR7 used to dribble and he was difficult to defend. He is still difficult to defend but in a whole new way. But as a defender you don't see it.
SeemaMishra
20
for all messi fan who will now come up with the photo if messi dribbling 3-4 players this is for you 🐐
Jobabenuy
15
I can see How easy it Was[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
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read before u write he said one on one ,u are so blinded by hate that u don’t read
Ball_is_lyf
10
I can see How easy it Was[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
thiago Silva clearly mentioned a one on one. a header doesn't count as a one on one. please use common sense before talking trash.