Trent Alexander-Arnold has faced Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eden Hazard and names his toughest rival

Trent Alexander-Arnold has named Lionel Messi as the toughest opponent he has faced in his career and hailed his legendary status.

Throughout his eight seasons at Liverpool, Alexander Arnold He has played against some of the biggest and best names in football.

Cristiano RonaldoKarim Benzema and Eden Hazard are just some of them, in addition to Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.

But when asked to pick the best player he has ever faced, he was quick to name the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Messi.

Alexander-Arnold has only faced the Argentine icon once: in Liverpool's famous comeback in the Champions League semi-final at Anfield, which featured that assist for Divock Origi, but it's clear he did enough to take top spot from the 25-year-old.

“For me it has to be Messi, the best player I've ever played with, for me the best player to ever play the game,” he said. Mirror.

He was then asked if Messi was better than legend Diego Maradona, and he replied: “I've never seen Maradona so I don't know… imagine someone better than what I've seen… my brain doesn't understand it, there's no way anyone can be better.”

“Playing against him gives me a different feeling than I've ever felt with anyone else.

“You're always on red alert when the ball is near him, I think it's very rare for a player to have that kind of feeling, to transmit that feeling to other players. So for that reason I have to say it's him.”

“For me, I think in many aspects of the game he's probably the best at any given time. He can do almost anything he wants on a football pitch, so yes, for that reason he's the best.”

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Alexander-Arnold's decision to name Messi as his toughest opponent may not come as a surprise to many given his immense status.

The 37-year-old won ten LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues, among other domestic and European titles at Barcelona.

Messi also won two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain before helping guide current club Inter Miami to their first ever league title with the League Cup last year.

He also won the World Cup with Argentina and recently lifted his second Copa América with his country.

Now that Messi is playing in MLS, Alexander-Arnold may never face him again unless they meet on the international stage.

The defender could soon be ready for new horizons this summer, talkSPORT has learned from Real Madrid. Watching a movement.

Alexander-Arnold is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, although it is unclear whether Liverpool will entertain his local star and vice-captain of the departing club.