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Antonio Rudiger Names Toughest Opponents XI, Picks Shock Manchester United Star

Antonio Rudiger Names Toughest Opponents XI, Picks Shock Manchester United Star

Antonio Rudiger

Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger has picked a team consisting of the toughest players he has faced, naming FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in his selection as the Argentine is the best he has ever seen, and selecting a shock Manchester United star.

Tired of reading? Click through the gallery to see Rudiger's toughest opponents XI.

The former Roma centre-back became the latest player to pick a starting XI consisting of his most difficult opponents, with Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who he plays with in the German national side, making his team.

In his favoured position, Rudiger chose Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, two defenders considered among the best of their respective generations. At right-back, the Chelsea man surprisingly went with United Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Rudiger chose the Red Devils defender ahead of many other well-established right-sided full backs, with the young Englishman, who has made an impressive start to life at United, only his second full season as a professional footballer.

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Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne was picked in his midfield, while the German defender chose both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, telling Sky Sports: "The next two stand out, they are in a different world, they are different quality.

"When you're playing against Messi, the feeling you have is that it's just up to him, if he is in a good mood or is having a good day you cannot stop him. That is my honest opinion.

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"The same applies with Ronaldo. They have two different ways of playing, one to try and score goals and the other is enjoying his football. If I had to pick one it would be Messi. Is he the best ever? I didn't see Pele or Diego Maradona playing because that was not my time, so it's Messi."

Other high-profile players make up the rest of Rudiger's selection – click through the gallery to see his full team.

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