I've played with Messi, Bale and Hazard but Nigeria star gave me hardest game — Man Utd defender

Despite having gone up against some of the biggest names in wide forward business, Manchester United star Luke Shaw named a Nigerian star as one of the toughest opponents he has faced.  

The 28-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best fullbacks in the world since he broke out as a youngster at Southampton.

He is currently in his ninth season as a Manchester United left-back. The England international has been a stalwart in the defence of the Red Devils for years, facing several world-class forwards, but he has never forgotten the time he faced the Super Eagles' Victor Moses earlier in his career.  

Shaw revealed that although he had gone up against some of the best forwards of the past decade, like Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale, and Eden Hazard, his matchup against Moses while he was still a teenager at Southampton was one of the toughest he had had.  

"People always think I'm joking, but one of my hardest games ever was against Moses when I was coming in as a 17-year-old at Southampton," he said, per Talk Sport. 

"Maybe because I was so young. He was really quick, direct, and strong, and that was a challenge for me.

"I've played against the likes of Bale, Messi, and Hazard, and they were all so good, but I always remember Moses as a really tough opponent as well."