When Cristiano Ronaldo is asked who gave him the hardest time, one of the names he has offered is Ashley Cole. Ronaldo publicly said Cole was the toughest defender he ever played against. That is a decent reference for any left-back.
Cole earned it over more than 15 years at the top. He was part of Arsenal's Invincibles squad that went through the 2003-04 season unbeaten, and he later won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012.
- 3 Premier League titles, split between Arsenal and Chelsea.
- 7 FA Cups, the most in history.
- 107 caps for England, and the first-choice left-back for over a decade.
Was he the best left-back the Premier League has had?
There is a strong case. Cole was sharp in defence and dangerous going forward, and the best wingers in the world did not enjoy their afternoons against him. He was as good at tracking back as he was at overlapping, and he kept that level year after year.
When the best player on the planet names you as the hardest defender he faced, the argument is mostly made for you. Number 28.
Tomorrow: number 27.
