Cristiano Ronaldo reveals ex-England defender Ashley Cole is the toughest opponent he has ever faced
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CRISTIANO RONALDO has revealed that the toughest opponent he has ever faced is former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole.
The duo have met on several occasions during Ronaldo's six-year spell with Manchester United- while also facing each other on international duty with Portugal and England.
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And although Ronaldo has tested himself against numerous defenders in La Liga, the Champions League and on the international stage - on his way to becoming arguably the best player in the world - he still remembers and rates Cole as a worthy adversary.
He said: "Over the years I had some great battles with Ashley Cole, he does not give you a second to breathe.
"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."
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Ronaldo was also questioned about the his biggest rival Lionel Messi - and he admitted his huge respect for the Argentine, even if he conceded they weren't "good friends".
He added: "There is a big mutual respect between myself and Lionel Messi. 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."
And CR7 even had time to speak of his admiration for former boss at Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson, who plucked him out of Sporting Lisbon in his native Portugal when he was just 18 years old.
He said: "I do see Sir Alex Ferguson as a father figure. 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."