Manchester United star Marcus Rashford revealed the three toughest opponents that he has faced on the pitch since bursting onto the scene at Old Trafford.
Rashford earned his first-team debut under Louis van Gaal and made an immediate impression with a stunning brace against Midtjylland in the Europa League in 2016.
The 26-year-old boyhood United fan has since remained an integral figure in the starting XI under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag.
Rashford has also been a key player for England manager Gareth Southgate at times, with the United star impressing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
During his successful playing career for both club and country, Rashford has found himself facing off against formidable opposition on the pitch.
While Barcelona boss Xavi named Rashford as one of his three toughest players to stop, the England international has also opened up about his trickiest tests to date.
Rashford’s two former toughest opponents
Following his emergence in United’s first team, Rashford admitted that ex-Arsenal man Laurent Koscielny was a “difficult defender” to play against in his career.
“I think, individually, it would be Laurent Koscielny at Arsenal,” he told United’s official website in 2016 (via Football365).
“He was a difficult defender to play against.”
Fast-forward from 2016 and Rashford would find himself playing in England’s Euro 2020 campaign, with the Three Lions reaching the final against Italy at Wembley.
However, the final would end in heartbreak for the Three Lions star, with Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missing from the spot-kick against Italy.
Before the start of Euro 2020, Rashford singled out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and former Real Madrid star Raphael Varane as two tough opponents.
Varane was playing for Los Blancos at the time and would later become Rashford’s United teammate after his £42m move to Old Trafford in 2021.
Despite picking out Van Dijk, Rashford admitted that Varane was “quite tough” when he played against him during a friendly match between United and Madrid.
Speaking during a fan Q&A in 2021, Rashford told United’s official website: “That is a tough question, Daniel.
“I think an individual is different to a unit. Some teams defend really well as units and it’s teams like Burnley, for example, who do everything as a four.
“So, if one pushes up, they all push up. If one drops, they all drop. It can be, at times, difficult to find space.
“But then there are some top individual defenders — Van Dijk, Ramos. I thought, when we played against Real Madrid in a friendly, that Varane played and he was quite tough. So, there are a few people.”
Rashford’s current pick for toughest opponent
Rashford has since revealed that he has a new toughest opponent ahead of the likes of former Gunners defender Koscielny and 2018 World Cup winner Varane.
During an interview with United legend Gary Neville, the Red Devils forward spoke highly of Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker and his battles with him on the pitch.
Rashford hailed his England teammate for his “unbelievable” physical attributes and his ability to quickly recover when he was caught out or was in the wrong position.
Speaking on The Overlap in July, he said: “I would probably say Kyle Walker. His physical capabilities are just unbelievable, so it’s always a tough day.
“You have to try and catch him off guard or in the wrong position, but even then he can recover.
“I just try and drift into places where he can’t drift and he has to pass me on.”
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