Sergio Aguero has named Virgil van Dijk among the five toughest defenders he faced during his professional career.
The former Manchester City striker announced his retirement from football at the age of 33 in December 2021 due to a heart condition and has now taken the time to reflect on his playing days.
Aguero shaped up against some of the greatest players in world football during spells with Atletico Madrid, City and for the Argentina national team, during which period he claimed a number of trophies.
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Asked to name his five hardest opponents throughout the course of his 18-year professional career, Aguero said: "John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Virgil van Dijk, Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos."
The 33-year-old faced Puyol and Ramos during his time in LaLiga, with the defensive duo representing two of Atletico's biggest rivals in Spain.
Ferdinand, Terry and Van Dijk then became opponents for Aguero after he completed his Premier League switch in 2011.
Van Dijk is often a name that crops up when strikers are asked to select who they have struggled to compete against, though the Dutch defender did not top the list of the former City talisman.
Also challenged to reveal the most difficult Premier League central defender he played against, Aguero opted for Terry.
The pair went head-to-head over a six-year period between 2011 and 2017, with their battles coming to a close after the ex-Chelsea captain hung up his boots.
Van Dijk and Aguero also had their fair share of duels as City and Liverpool competed against each other for Premier League glory, though their first meetings came when the Reds' star was on the south coast at Southampton.
