Down soccer lane by Bob Julius………
Rubber meets the road as two of the most iconic players of the 90’s, Nigeria’s Taribo West and Brazil’s Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima clash for possession at the Atlanta 96 Olympic games.
Rubber meets the road as two of the most iconic players of the 90’s, Nigeria’s Taribo West and Brazil’s Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima clash for possession at the Atlanta 96 Olympic games
West played across Europe, including spells at both Milan clubs, and became a household name across the world due to his impressive performances for Nigeria in the 90's.
It was in France where his career took off at Auxerre in 1993, and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry's confession about West says everything about the defenders time in France.
A list of some of the defenders Arsenal legend Thierry Henry faced during his career includes Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Carles Puyol and Jaap Stam.
All were monsters of the game, who helped define the art of defending during their careers, but none were selected as the toughest opponent Henry ever faced.
Instead, the French forward claimed another defender gave him his toughest examination. “For direct opponent, I would go back in the days when we played against Auxerre "
"Because [at Auxerre], they did man-marking. He followed you everywhere, even in the dressing room".
And whatever the defender lacked in pace and finesse, he more than made up with his hard-tackling, commitment and surging forward runs.
West helped Auxerre reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 1996-97, and earned himself a move to Inter Milan.
Despite being sent-off during the final against Lazio, he won the UEFA Cup in his first season in Italy and played alongside the likes of Ronaldo, Javier Zanetti and Youri Djorkaeff.
On the other hand, between 1994 & 1999, Ronaldo Nazário scored 115 goals in 134 games before his first knee injury.
That was between age 17 & 22, doing it in both La Liga & Serie A. He was facing defenders like Paolo Maldini, Fernando Hierro, Franco Baresi, Desailly, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Costacurta, Nesta, Cannavaro, Thuram, etc. 🙌
"You couldn't mark him: with his first touch he beat you, with his second he burned you, then with his third he humiliated you. He was like an alien" - Cannavaro
"Ronaldo was the only time I saw Maldini worried. He said to me 'Marcel, you have to stay around me. I need your help here, we have to double up on him'. He was amazing, a magician." - Marcel Deasilly
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, the only player to ever scare Paolo Maldini!
Maldini - "I was lucky enough to play against Ronaldo.He was just Phenomenal , and most difficult opponent ever faced.After Maradona He is the greatest player I’ve ever seen.”
