Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Dele Alli, has shared the names of the two most challenging players he has come up against in his career — Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne.

In an interview with Como’s official website, Alli praised both football stars for their outstanding passing skills. He said Messi was one of the toughest players, even though they didn’t face each other directly on the field.

Alli also spoke highly of De Bruyne, saying he often played in a similar position behind him. He admitted he would often hope De Bruyne wouldn’t see a pass, but the Belgian always managed to find it with precision.

Alli added that the way Messi and De Bruyne spot and deliver perfect passes made him respect them even more.

Currently, Messi plays for Inter Miami, while De Bruyne is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of this season.