Steven Gerrard snubs Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when naming three toughest opponents

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard didn't pick either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi when naming the toughest opponents he has ever faced.

Having played at Liverpool for almost all of his career, Gerrard has played with and against some of the very best players ever to step onto a football pitch.

At Liverpool, the club captain played with Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso across his 17 year stay at Anfield.

During this time, Gerrard also faced off against both Ronaldo, during heated Premier League clashes with Manchester United and Champions League meetings Real Madrid, and Messi during European ties against Barcelona.

Despite this, the Liverpool legend named three different players when asked to pick the three toughest opponents he faced during his storied career.

Steven Gerrard competed against Cristiano Ronaldo for both club and country. (Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Following his career, Gerrard has named both Ronaldo and Messi as the greatest player of all time on several occasions, showing his respect for the two men.

But it was three Premier League midfielders that he claims he struggled with most during an interview with ESPN.

The first man on his shortlist, was former Chelsea and France midfielder Claude Makelele, who won six trophies with the London club including two Premier League titles.

Gerrard faced off with the Frenchman on 17 occasions either for club on country, losing 10 of the matches, drawing four and winning only three.

Next, Gerrard picked Manchester United's famous hardman Roy Keane, who is often regarded of one of the club's best and most important players.

During his 12 year spell at Old Trafford, the Irishman won 17 trophies including seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League.

Despite his respect for the United captain, Gerrard actually boasts a positive record against Keane, winning five of their 10 meetings and drawing in one of them.

Steven Gerrard faced Roy Keane 10 times in his career. (Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Finally, Patrick Viera made Gerrard's top three, another player who the Liverpool legend actually managed to beat more often than not.

Across the 15 matches that Viera and Gerrard faced each other in, the Liverpudlian was a part of the winning side in seven while losing five.

However, this fact won't matter to Viera, who won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and four Community Shields with the Gunners.

Things only got worse for Ronaldo later in the interview, as Gerrard also decided against picking him when asked to name his three Premier League GOATS.

Instead, the 45-year-old opted for Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Keane.