I coped well with Cristiano Ronaldo, but the former Chelsea and Tottenham wingers were my toughest opponents.

Having faced many Premier League wingers in his time, Wayne Bridge knows a thing or two about defending.

Bridge played in the top flight for most of his career with Southampton, Chelsea and city ​​of manchesterplaying 14 years in the Premier League from 1998 to 2012.

During that time, he would have faced some of the best players of the era, including David BeckhamFreddie Ljungberg and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the five times Golden Ball The winner never impressed Bridge when he faced him. In fact, she often got the best of manchester united legend.

Instead, Bridge insisted that former Tottenham star Aaron Lennon proved more difficult, as did his former Chelsea and City team-mate Wright-Phillips.

Speaking to talkSPORT, courtesy of Betfred, Bridge said: “Personally, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips (were my toughest opponents). They were so fast. Quick on the point. Such difficult games.

“Where they're so quick at five yards and you kick them and they just bounce off the ground. I had some really good battles with them.

“They are top players. Aaron Lennon was a great player for Tottenham. Whether it was his end product or not scoring enough goals, maybe some people don't think he was.

“I played against Cristiano Ronaldo, but I wouldn't say he was at his best. He was a winger, he was complicated, you always had to be connected.

“But I always did well against him. He can make you look stupid with maybe a nutmeg or too many steps and you can fall.”

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Ronaldo's first spell at United saw the boy grow into a man, playing under Mr Alex Ferguson for six years, where he won the first of his five Ballon d'Ors in 2008, when he led the Red Devils to Champions League glory.

His 42 goals in 49 appearances made him a fan favorite at Old Trafford, while his dazzling skills and penchant for impressive goals made him a nightmare for defenders up and down the country.

After joining real Madrid In 2009, Ronaldo would establish himself as one of the greatest players of all time, scoring 450 goals for Los Blancos in 438 appearances, winning four more Champions League titles and four more Ballon d'Ors.

Meanwhile, Lennon played most of his career at Tottenham, where he was a key player for 10 years and made 364 appearances.

Having started in Leeds United Before signing for Spurs in 2005, the winger also played for Everton, Burnley and a stage in Türkiye with Kayserispor.

Now retired, Lennon was known for his speed as a diminutive winger, much like Wright-Phillips, who joined Bridge at Chelsea after signing for the Blues in 2005.

Bridge then followed Wright-Phillips to City in 2009, who returned to Manchester after three years in London, while the defender became one of the club's first signings following their acquisition from Qatar in September 2008.

In total, Bridge would play 467 times in his professional club career, as well as making 36 international appearances for England.