Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “Maldini was the best and toughest defender I ever faced. He had everything: he was a complete defender, who was strong, intelligent, and an excellent man-marker.”

Ronaldo: “Paolo Maldini is the best I’ve played against.”

Roberto Baggio : "Paolo Maldini. When you found him in front of you you knew you would not pass. He was big. He was strong with his head, with his right foot, with his left foot... You needed to put together 15 players to make one like him"

Ruud Gullit: “Position for position one of the greatest players ever. But unlike certain other great full-backs, he wasn’t world class when just defending or just attacking – he could do both better than most and is an excellent centre-back too.”

Marcel Desailly: “A real monster… I find it incredible he has never been World or European Footballer of the Year. Alongside Franco Baresi he was the best defender I’ve ever seen in my career. Although everybody tends to think of him just as a full-back, he could also play as a stopper. Most people remember that great Milan side of the late-80s for its attacking play and for the forward pair of Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, but it was a team built on a very solid defence, and Maldini was the cornerstone.”

Andriy Shevchenko: “The most gifted and hard-working player I’ve ever seen. He was an excellent all-round footballer with true leadership virtues and the rare ability to be reliable in defence and creative in attack.”

Records

Most appearances in all competitions (Milan): 902

Most finals played in UEFA Champions League: 8

Longest-serving player (Milan): 24 years and 132 days

Record for most minutes played in the World Cups

Fastest goal scored in UEFA Champions League final history

Most finals played in UEFA Champions League: 8

Oldest player to score a goal in UEFA Champions League final history

Most European/UEFA Super Cup titles

Most European/UEFA Super Cup final appearances

Achievements

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2005

Seria A winner - 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04

European Cup/UEFA Champions League: 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 2002–03, 2006–07

European/UEFA Super Cup: 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003

Intercontinental Cup: 1989, 1990

FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1988, 1996, 2000

Bravo Award: 1989

Ballon d'Or: Third place 1994,2003

World Soccer Player of the Year: 1994

UNICEF European Footballer of the Season: 1993–94

FIFA World Player of the Year: Silver Award 1995

Onze de Onze: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003

UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2005

World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013

Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020

👉Find the link here👈

Emmanuel Adebayor: “Vidic was the tough man, the nastiest, like running into a rock. He could block a striker with a single finger. He walks on you, he says sorry, he kicks you, he says sorry. This guy was ready to kill.”

Robin van Persie: “When I think of him as a footballer, Nemanja puts his head where other players are scared to put their feet. That’s Nemanja."

Jamie Carragher: “My type of defender. Liverpool tried to buy him in January 2006, but our loss was United’s gain. I’d have loved to have played alongside him and I’m sure we could have formed a solid partnership. He loves defending and putting his head in where it hurts.”

Diogo Dalot: "Nemanja Vidic as a “top player” who surpasses all of his rivals."

Michael Carrick: “Vida, simply the best out-and-out defender I’ve seen. Aggression and desire to win at all costs, scared centre-forwards to death!”

Player Profile:

Name: Nemanja Vidić

Age: 42 (Born: October 21, 1981)

Height: 1.90m

Position: Center-Back

Preferred Foot: Right

Place of Birth: Titovo Užice, Serbia

Citizenship: Serbia

Style of Play:

Vidić epitomizes the quintessential tough-as-nails defender, renowned for his physicality, bravery, and defensive astuteness. Labeled as a "no-nonsense" center-back, he instills fear in opposition forwards with his uncompromising challenges and unwavering commitment to winning duels. His strength, aerial prowess, and leadership qualities make him a stalwart in defense, capable of thwarting attacks with precision timing and resolute defending.

Despite lacking pace in later years, Vidić compensates with impeccable positioning and decision-making, showcasing his ability to read the game and nullify threats with expert anticipation. His partnership with Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United became legendary, blending Vidić's rugged style with Ferdinand's finesse to form one of the most formidable defensive duos in football history.

Achievements:

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2009, 2011

Premier League Player of the Season: 2008–09, 2010–11

PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13

Football League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10

FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013

FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

ESM Team of the Year: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11

UEFA Champions League: 2007–08

Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2008–09

Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2008–09

Best Sportsman of SD Crvena Zvezda: 2002

Serbia's Overseas Player of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010

Serbian Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2008

Nemanja Vidić's legacy as a defensive titan transcends accolades, epitomizing the essence of resilience, determination, and leadership in football's toughest arena.

Find the link here: www.msport.com/ng?KPP

Enter the realm of football's fiercest warriors, and you'll find Gennaro Gattuso, a legendary figure whose name strikes fear into the hearts of opponents. Born on January 9, 1978, in Corigliano Calabro, Italy, Gattuso embodies power, aggression, and an indomitable spirit that transcends the game

What Players and Coaches Said About Him:

Dybala: “He’s crazy but crazy in a good way... Some aren’t that nice, from when we were training, for the hits he gave me in the matches. But it was how he was."

Gattuso: "When I die, I want to go out on a football pitch."

Achievements

1X World Cup Winner

2X Champions League Winner

1X FIFA Club World Cup Winner

2X Italian Champion

2X UEFA Supercup Winner

3X Italian Super Cup Winner

1X Italian Cup Winner

1X European Under-21 Champion

2X Italian Youth Champion (Primavera)

 

Gennaro Gattuso's legacy as a football warrior transcends mere statistics, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and inspiring generations with his unmatched passion and relentless.

👉Link here 👈

• Cristiano Ronaldo: "Scholes is the best I've played with and he helped me a lot when I was young. He's amazing."

•  Thierry Henry: "[Manchester] United always had many amazing players, but whenever we faced them we were always, always, always scared of what Paul Scholes could do. Ask anyone from that old Arsenal team, they will tell you the same."

• Lionel Messi: "At La Masia, his name was mentioned a lot. He's a teacher."

• Xavi Hernandez: "[He was] a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. I've spoken to Xabi Alonso about him."He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him."

• Pep Guardiola:  "Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would have loved to have played alongside him."

• Andrea Pirlo: "The truly great English midfield player of the generation. Didn’t just play the game, he thought about the game. You could see every pass, every decision, was based on his intelligence and understanding."

• Ronaldinho: "I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?"

• Pele: "If he was playing with me, I would have scored so many more."

• Zidane: "What does it feel like to be the best player in the world?," asked an interviewer. The response: "I don’t know, ask Paul Scholes."

Player Profile:

• Name: Paul Aaron Scholes

• Age: 49 (Born: Nov 16, 1974)

• Height: 1.68m

• Position: Central Midfield

• Shirt Number: 18

• Preferred Foot: Right

• Place of Birth: Salford

• Citizenship: England

Paul Scholes Style of Play:

Scholes was a marvel on the field, renowned for his technical brilliance. He possessed an array of skills, from accurate passing and intelligent movement to powerful long-range shooting. Initially a striker in his youth, Scholes transformed into a well-rounded, tenacious playmaker, showcasing versatility in various midfield roles. His stamina, vision, work rate, and positional sense allowed him to seamlessly transition between defensive, offensive, wide, and playmaking positions. Scholes was celebrated for his late attacking runs, exceptional ability to combine with teammates, and a profound capacity to read the game, controlling the tempo of play. His extraordinary range of passing often initiated dangerous attacking plays after winning back possession.

Career Stats:

Club Career Games: 716

Club Career Goals: 155

Club Career Assists: 82

Achievements:

1. 2x Champions League winner 

2. 1x FIFA Club World Cup winner 

3. 11x English Champion 

4. 4x English FA Cup winner 

5.2x English League Cup winner 

6. 5x English Super Cup winner 

7. 1x Intercontinental Cup winner

Paul Scholes, a legend in his own right, continues to be an inspiration and a symbol of football excellence. 

Link: www.msport.com/ng?KES