Two difficult choices.
Ryan Giggs played alongside some brilliant players during his 24 years in the Manchester United first-team.
From Bryan Robson to Eric Cantona, Paul Scholes to Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney to Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, one player stands above them all, according to the former United winger.
“The best player I’ve ever played with. It’s a tough one, but I definitely think I’d go for (Cristiano) Ronaldo,” Giggs said during a promotional event for the Champions League.
Best player Ryan #Giggs has ever played with? It had to be that man, @Cristiano 🇵🇹💯 #ChampionTheTrophy #UCL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/CxUp5hAE2M
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 6, 2017
Giggs and Ronaldo were teammates at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009. During that time, they won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Champions League.
And Ronaldo went from inconsistent winger to world player of the year and the most expensive player in history when he joined Real Madrid for £80m.
He scored 118 goals in 292 games for United, including 42 in 49 games in 2008, when the team won the Champions League.
When Paul Scholes, another United legend, was asked to name the best footballer he played alongside, he opted for Giggs over Ronaldo.
“I played with some brilliant players – so many brilliant players – but Ryan was the one that could lift everything,” Scholes said.
“You’d just give him the ball, especially on big European nights here, he used to beat five or six men, used to get the crowd going.”
Giggs and Scholes were both fantastic players, but it’s very difficult to argue that Ronaldo wasn’t the best to grace Old Trafford over the last 30 years.
Tough choice https://t.co/757o2JqLEH
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 5, 2017
Giggs was also asked to name the toughest player he came up against during his career, and opted for another legend of European football – Javier Zanetti.
The Argentine full-back played for Inter Milan between 1995 and 2014, and although he only faced Giggs a couple of times in the Champions League, he clearly made an impression.
Who was the best defender Ryan #Giggs ever played against? Step forward @javierzanetti 🇦🇷 #ChampionTheTrophy #UCL #MUFC #Inter pic.twitter.com/P9iyTpxuqY
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 7, 2017
