• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Gary Neville Names Forgotten Brazilian Legend as the 'Best I Played Against'

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Updated 15:36 21 Oct 2025 GMT+1Published 15:33 21 Oct 2025 GMT+1

Gary Neville Names Forgotten Brazilian Legend as the 'Best I Played Against'

The Manchester United legend has no doubts over who the best player he has ever competed against is.

Ben McCrum

Ben McCrum

Manchester United legend Gary Neville picked a forgotten Brazilian star as the best he has ever faced.

Having spent almost 20 years competing at the top level of football playing for both Manchester United and England from 1992 to 2011, Neville has played alongside and against some of the best to ever do it.

Across his incredibly successful spell at United, the defender played against some of the greatest Premier League players of all time, including the likes of Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard and Alan Shearer.

Meanwhile, while representing his country as a part of England's 'golden generation', Neville faced Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro and United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Advert

But there is one player that stood out amongst the rest as the best that Neville ever came up against on a football pitch.

Neville has faced some of the best players in Premier League history. (Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Neville has faced some of the best players in Premier League history. (Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Back in Club World Championships in 2000, United suffered a shock 3-1 loss to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama as they looked to win the inaugural edition of the competition.

During the game, Neville came up against Brazil legend Romario, a player who he has since labelled as the best he's ever played.

Advert

Sharing a clip from an interview with Romario on his Instagram story, Neville wrote: "The best I played against!"

It's not the first time that former United defender has sang the praises of the Brazil legend, as he once recalled playing against Romario during an interview with Sky Sports.

"Romario was the most incredible player. Speed of turn, speed off the mark, the ability to beat someone. He was just an amazing player," he said in 2017.

"Romario was, to me, the scariest thing I've seen. I remember him just stood in front of me and I'm thinking I've got him, then he's spinning me and running behind me and I'm thinking 'what the hell was that?'

Advert

Gary Neville was a part of the Manchester United side that lost 3-1 to Vasco da Gama (Image: Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT
Gary Neville was a part of the Manchester United side that lost 3-1 to Vasco da Gama (Image: Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT

"I can't believe what I've just seen, and the ball had gone behind me. Brilliant instinctive movement, change of direction.

"The change of direction from Romario was exceptional, and that was the thing that always troubled me the most.

"You can handle straight pace because you can always drop off, but change of direction at pace, with the ball. You'd just... pray! Come back and help me people!"

Featured Image Credit: Stick to Football

Topics: Gary Neville, Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Brazil

Ben McCrum
Ben McCrum

Ben is a sports journalist who specialises in football and MMA. He has written for publications such as Manchester Evening News, WiganToday, Manchester World and beIN Sports. Throughout his career he has interviewed top athletes in MMA including Tom Aspinall and Michael Bisping.

X

@benmcc14

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • BBC Launch New Visualised Football Podcast, Hosted By Wayne Rooney
  • Gary Neville Slammed After What He Did Following Man United Winner at Anfield
  • Salford City Match Stopped by Gary Neville Protest After 'Angry White Men' Post
  • Roy Keane Disagrees With Neville And Scholes on Best Premier League Midfielder

Choose your content:

24 mins ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • Sky Sports
    24 mins ago

    Man Utd Fans Slam Gary Neville for What He Said on Commentary vs Brighton

    Manchester United were in Premier League action against Brighton and Hove Albion.

    Football
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Chelsea Fans Slam Enzo Maresca for Decision on One Player in Sunderland Defeat

    Chelsea suffered a last-gasp defeat to newly promoted Sunderland after they led at Stamford Bridge.

    Football
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Man Utd Takeover Update as New Details of ‘Secret’ UAE Consortium Revealed

    A consortium from the Middle East has been linked with buying Manchester United.

    Football
  • Getty
    3 hours ago

    Donnarumma Settles Mbappe vs Haaland Debate with Clear Answer

    Gianluigi Donnarumma has played with both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, two of the leading players in world football.

    Football