Former Manchester City midfielder, Stephen Ireland, has snubbed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo while naming the two best players he ever faced in his career.

Ireland, who represented Manchester City between 2005 and 2010, named Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas as the best players he ever played against, ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Ireland said: “Your experience is different to that of a fan because I have played for Manchester City in a pre-season friendly against Barcelona.

“Lionel Messi played, he was not good. We won the game. I can’t say that Messi is the best player I have played against because my experience in that game was that he was not good.”

“So it’s very hard for me to say that Ronaldo is the best player I have played against. I can only go off their performance on the day against me. Hence why I said Cesc Fabregas.

“Every time I played against him, very good. Eden Hazard, very, very good. So that’s my opinion based on that question.”