![[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany arrives at the stadium before the match during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium.](https://statico.profootballnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/19145644/premier-league-legend-vincent-kompany-02-19-26-1920x1377.jpg "Premier League Legend Vincent Kompany Picks Toughest Opponent -- It’s Not Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi")
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany was one of the best defenders in the game before retiring and becoming a coach. He has now spoken about his toughest opponents during his 17-year career, but has snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Vincent Kompany Is Winless Against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Kompany played over 600 matches for club and country during his career and faced the best players from around the world. He spent a large part of his career at Manchester City when they were pushing for the top in the Premier League and played a key role in their rise.
Speaking to the media this week, Kompany was quizzed about his toughest opponent, when he admitted that Messi and Ronaldo were among the best players he faced. However, he opted against picking the duo as the player who troubled him the most on the pitch.
He surprised everyone and named Barcelona and Brazil legend Ronaldinho as the player and said: “There were many, but there was one who impressed me more than any other. It was Ronaldinho, do you know him? Of course, Messi and Ronaldo are incredibly good, they are probably the best players, but from what I saw in one game, it was Ronaldinho.”
Kompany faced Ronaldinho just once in his career – 72 minutes in the 2008 Olympics when Brazil defeated Belgium 1-0. The defender started at center-back alongside Thomas Vermaelen before being sent off.
The Manchester City legend faced Ronaldo five times in his career and did not win a single match. All his meetings were at club level with the Cityzens, losing twice to Manchester United and as many times to Real Madrid, while the only draw came against Los Blancos in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage.
Kompany is also winless against Messi in all their meetings, for club and country. The defender lost all five games against the Argentine, four times during Manchester City vs Barcelona, and once in the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Belgium.
In the same press conference, Kompany was also asked to name the best coach he has worked under, and he did not take the time to name Pep Guardiola. He claimed that the Manchester City coach was different, while he also learned a lot from Roberto Mancini and Huub Stevens. However, the Belgian added that he does not try to copy any of them while he prepares his players as a coach, as he wants to write his own story.
