Dele Alli Reveals Who His Hardest Opponent Has Been So Far

Winning a vote by fans and journalists is one thing but what players want above over those is recognition from other players. Spurs midfielder Dele Alli has revealed who his toughest opponent has been so far.

The Best FIFA Award went to Luka Modric this week after a vote that was a mixture of a fans vote as well as coaches and captains from international teams, with the Croatian beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah into second and third.

During the voting ceremony Salah's goal against Everton last season was voted by the fans as the best goal in football in the previous year. It proved that whilst Modric's win was well deserved a vote by the public often leads to some questionable winners, Super Hans was right.

That's why players voting on their own player of the year tends to make much more sense and the awards have a greater meaning to those that win them.

Dele Alli has played against some of the biggest names in world football, including the top three from this season's FIFA awards, for either Spurs, England or both.

Now he's revealed that his toughest opponent to date in his career has been Real Madrid's Isco. Speaking to the Mirror about their meeting in the 2015 Audi Cup the Englishman said:

"My first season at Tottenham when we played them preseason, watching him then, he just makes the game look so easy.

"We weren't really playing up against each other but I was enjoying watching him."

Isco against England at the recent international. Image: PA Images

Alli came up against Real and Isco again last season in the Champions League and it was the White Hart Lane club who came out on top.

If the former Milton Keynes Dons' midfielder had been impressed with his opposite number then Isco must have been impressed with Alli scoring twice in Wembley against Los Blancos last season.

Alli grabbed a pair against Real last season in a 3-1 win. Image: PA Images

Once again the former Malaga man and Alli faced earlier this season as Spain beat England in the Nations League and the pair seem destined to cross paths throughout their careers.

It's a big shout to name Isco as his toughest opponent considering the calibre of players he's faced. In that Madrid side alone there's the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale and then there's all the players in England too.

Topics: Spurs, Football News, Isco, Premier League, England, Dele Alli, Champions League, World Cup, Spain, Real Madrid, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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