'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole and Cristiano Ronaldo faced each other several times during the attacker's first Premier League stint as well as at international level. Although the Portuguese came out on top on multiple occasions, the defender also had a few occasions in which he had the upper hand.
One such instance was a Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United on November 26, 2006. The Englishman literally pocketed Ronaldo throughout the game, which ended 1-1. Louis Saha and Ricardo Carvalho scored for United and Chelsea, respectively.
Two years later, Ashley Cole proved his class once again, as he kept Lionel Messi from scoring against Chelsea over two legs in the 2008-09 Champions League semi-finals. Barcelona, though, progressed to the final, and won the competition.
#2 Diego Godin
Diego Godin had the privilege to face two of the finest players in history during his time in Spain. He managed to record a remarkable moment against Lionel Messi when Atletico Madrid clashed with Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2016.
The Blaugrana won the first leg 2-1 at Camp Nou, setting up a key encounter in the return leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.
It took Atletico 36 minutes to draw first blood in the second leg. All eyes were on Messi to step up. But an applaudable performance from Diego Godin ensured the Argentine struggled throughout the game. Antoine Griezmann scored his second goal of the night to seal a 2-0 victory for the Rojiblancos on the night.
A year earlier, the centre-back produced a similar performance against Cristiano Ronaldo during a La Liga clash with Real Madrid. On February 7, 2015, Real Madrid fell to a shocking 4-0 defeat to Atletico in La Liga. Despite featuring in the game, Ronaldo couldn't break through a Diego Godin-led backline.
#1 Virgil van Dijk
Portugal came out on top when they faced the Netherlands in the 2018 UEFA Nations League final. But that had nothing to do with Cristiano Ronaldo's heroics. The attacker was pocketed by Virgil van Dijk, who produced a fabulous performance at the heart of the Dutch defence.
Ronaldo, in fact, had a night to forget, with Goncalo Guedes scoring the only goal of the game to grant Portugal a victory over the Dutch.
The same happened to Lionel Messi when Barcelona travelled to Liverpool for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final in 2018. Having inspired a 3-0 win for the Blaugrana in the reverse fixture at Camp Nou, all eyes were on Messi to produce a scintillating performance at Anfield.
However, Barcelona were shocked as Liverpool fired four unanswered goals past them. Despite playing the entire match, Lionel Messi couldn't find the back of the net. The Argentine had a tough time facing a disciplined defence led by Virgil van Dijk.
