Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo would have watching roles only in the best ever XI of opponents selected by Barcelona legend Carles PuyolPA:Press AssociationChelsea great Didier Drogba is one of three strikers in a Puyol team of best-ever rivalsNews Group Newspapers LtdManchester city striker Sergio Aguero is the only current Prem player in the line-up picked by PuyolGetty ImagesPuyol was a long-standing Barca team-mate of Lionel Messi, so could not include the Argentine legend in his team of greatest ever opponentsGetty Images
Puyol, 38, retired two years ago after winning three Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles with Barca, plus Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup whilst earning 100 caps for Spain.
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But despite playing against three-time world player of the year Ronaldo many times, Puyol has left the Euro 2016 winner out of a formidable line-up he gave to The Times.
But no other Premier League player makes the team, perhaps showing how English football has struggled to keep up with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in recent seasons.
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Puyol was unable to pick Lionel Messi because, of course, they were long-running Barca team-mates.
But in 2011 Puyol told reporters the Argentina legend is the greatest player in the world.
And at the same time he praised Ronaldo with comments that make the Portugal frontman’s omission from his greatest opponents’ XI even more surprising.
Puyol said then: “They are both great players but in my opinion Messi is the best in the world.
“He (Ronaldo) is one of the best.. He’s a player who can make the difference and he has been scoring many goals. In my opinion, he’s the most important player in Real Madrid.”
Puyol picked long-serving Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon behind a back four of ex-Inter right-back Javier Zanetti, former Milan centre-backs Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, and one of Real Madrid’s greatest ever South Americans, Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos.
He named Italy stylist Andrea Pirlo in midfield, alongside ex-Holland playmaker Clarence Seedorf and Zinedine Zidane, commonly rated as France’s best ever player.
Ronaldo emerged as a world-class talent during his six years as a wideman with Manchester UnitedPA:Press AssociationDidier Drogba is one of the most powerful strikers in Premier League history, bagging 100 goals for Chelsea from 2004-2012PA:Press Association
PUYOL’S TEAM
Gianluigi Buffon
Javier Zanetti
Alessandro Nesta
Paolo Maldini
Roberto Carlos
Andrea Pirlo
Clarence Seedorf
Zinedine Zidane
Arjen Robben
Didier Drogba
Sergio Aguero
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