De Ligt is a physically strong center-back who played both defense and midfield during his time at the Ajax academy. Yet most of his idols are forwards. After stints at Juventus and Bayern Munich, the 26-year-old defender joined Manchester United, becoming one of the few players to have played for four top European clubs. Throughout his career, he has also played alongside many elite strikers. In an interview on MUTV's 'Idol' segment, De Ligt revealed that Ronaldo was his earliest idol, with Eriksen and Kane also serving as important role models.
Ronaldo
De Ligt's admiration for Portugal's all-time leading scorer Ronaldo began in his youth when he witnessed Ronaldo, wearing a Manchester United jersey, win the Premier League and Champions League double in the 2007/08 season.
"I was about seven or eight when Manchester United won the Champions League," said the center-back. "At that time, Ronaldo was undoubtedly one of the top players in the world. Everyone tried to imitate his playing style. So he was one of my earliest idols."
The two eventually played together, though not at Manchester United as De Ligt had dreamed, but at Serie A giants Juventus.
Their first partnership was in August 2019, when Juventus defeated Napoli 3-2. Afterwards, they played together in 67 matches. De Ligt even assisted his idol in a Serie A match against Bologna, helping Ronaldo score.
Eriksen
Former Manchester United midfielder Eriksen, like De Ligt, came from Ajax's renowned youth academy, and their career trajectories share similarities.
The age difference meant the two could not play together in Ajax's first team: Eriksen left the club three years before De Ligt made his debut. But De Ligt has always regarded the Danish midfielder as a guide in his career.
"I also played midfield during my academy days, and Eriksen played exactly where I did," said De Ligt, who wears the number 4 jersey. "So at that time, he was a role model I greatly admired. When he first emerged, everyone called him a rare talent, and I naturally studied his playing style. You see yourself in him, and it's truly inspiring to watch him reach his current heights step by step."
De Ligt's career came full circle when the two reunited at Manchester United, playing together in 23 matches during the 2024/25 season.
"I never thought I'd actually get to play with him later," De Ligt continued. "The same goes for Ronaldo. Eriksen was one of my most important idols when I was young."
Kane
It is difficult to immediately draw a connection between England captain Kane and De Ligt, considering their different career paths and playing styles.
However, the two spent one season together at Bayern Munich, Kane's first in the Bundesliga. That single year left a lasting impression on the Dutch defender.
Speaking about Kane, De Ligt said: "He impressed me immensely. His training mentality, individual skill, and consistently high goal-scoring efficiency are all impeccable. Every shot Harry takes has a clear purpose; he knows exactly what he's doing, precisely controlling the angle with either foot or his head—it's all masterful. His creative and linking play are equally outstanding. He is a nearly perfect all-around forward; I had never seen such a complete striker before."
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