What’s most impressive about Maldini’s game is he is a fair defender. He defends without trying to injure his opponent. Which is rare these days.

In 2005 Milan was the undisputed best team in the world, I still can't believe we didn't win a single trophy that season.

Maldini has been Maguire biggest inspiration. He inspired him so much that he played against Manchester United as well.

It's so impressive how a defender at 36 could keep in his pocket for 90 minutes one of the most explosive players of all time which is ronaldo at 20. Also let's take a second to talk about that bicycle kick clearance. Maldini is the undisputed goat of defenders. The only defender that comes close to him is Beckenbauer. The rest are his children

Your GOAT might be Messi, Ronaldo or Maradona... But for me the GOAT will always be Maldini.. Always a clean player and a great role model

that jump he made against roy keane was breathtaking

How time changes 😭 Now Ronaldo is 36/37 And Daniel Maldini is 20 👀🔥

This one is for the ages. Back then Ronaldo was like the energizer bunny but Maldini was so incredibly astute by then, he didn't even waste much energy to take care of him. Peak defending.

PAOLO MALDINI IS A TRUE FOOTBALLER LEGEND HE CAN TAVE BALL FROM EVERYONE WITHOUTH FOULING THEM

How time Changes Now cristiano is 36 and maldini alredy retired 😭

Maldini's footballing brain was his best asset. Knew his role in and out as a defender. Was considerably fit of course but knew what tools to use for maximum efficiency. Also, that classic Italian setup with Seedorf and Kaka dropping back to help defend is nostalgic.

I still remember this game...Cafu, Nesta, Stam, and Maldini, probably the best back four ever... There was a moment in the second half when Rooney was tackled by Stam, the expression on Rooney's face said it all... He felt helpless ..

Maldini retired at in his fourties, at age 36 he was still at top champions league level.

Maldini is a permanent member of my all time XI. Along with Baresi. Two Milan legends.

Man utd ronaldo was fearless, always tried to dribble past defenders but the fact that he was often looking for his teammates to pass whenevr he was 1 on 1 vs maldini alone shows who the 🐐 defender is

Maldini at 36 pretty much nullified all threats from Cristiano Ronaldo in the game. Much impressed.

Maldini had the best teacher in franco brasei one legend 🙌

There were 2 games I recall where Ronaldo was marked out when he was at his fastest 1) This game in the UCL 2) Ashley Cole when playing England in 2004 Euro cup While Cole (much younger than Maldini) would fall down many times or have to make last ditch tackles, I recall Maldini marked Ronaldo and hardly ever fell down when tackling as his positioning sense was so good

There's a few defenders in football history that could match Maldini when it comes to defensive skills, such as his partner Baresi, the Kaiser himself Beckenbauer, or more recent time legends like Puyol or Cannavaro.

What a defender Maldini was.....greatest defender of all time....

Young Ronaldo was absolutely a legendary player and Maldini could manage everything like it was normal.

Woah. Maldini was practically ancient at that time. Still kept it under control. GOAT.

Love Maldini, best defender ever. His reading and anticipation are top class. I think modern wingbacks are focusing too much on attacking that they somehow forget that they are also defenders. Defending is the priority of a defender. Maldini has faced many top wingers and the fact that he can still defend seamlessly against them for so many years tell how great a defender he is. I cannot believe someone said about Ronaldo juggling in his face, don't get me laughing, he is juggling away from Maldini running towards his own half, any monkey can do that. The most important thing is freaking get the ball into the box or create chances, that is what a winger should be doing. But Maldini doesnt allow any threat coming from his flank. That is what a leftback should do. Who cares about those useless juggles, lmao.

Growing up I always considered Maldini the best. There’s been many fantastic defenders since but he was so consistent it was ridiculous. A legend

Maldini was always one step ahead in his reading of the game. that's what made him one of the best defender's of all time

A backline of Maldini, Nesta, Stam, and Cafu is just absurd. You really can't blame 20 year old Ronaldo and Rooney for not being able to break down this Milan side.

El mejor defensa del mundo

Maldini’s slide tackles were an art form. I remember even as a younger child in the early 90s he was a superstar. It was wild seeing him just as good as ever in my early 20s.

That's a glance at a veteran in the sport with just timing, skill and precision.

to be honest he made ronaldo look like an ordinary winger i didnt expect that

Young Ronaldo couldn't pass 36 yr old maldini. Goat of Defenders

Increible el gran maldini con una gran mayoria de edad que fuerza que gran defensa era.

Maldini best defender in the world

Best defender ever 🔝🔝🔝

Bro really said “future is now, old man”

No offense to Ronaldo...but Maldini was at a different level . Look how he closes down the space and doesn't allow the attacker to use his pace or showboating skills. One of the few options against these defenders is the tiki taka. I think that would work . Gang up...form triangles and pass around one touch .

Maldini...piece of art defending😍👍

I miss those times 😍

Love your channel and the content! You got anything from Saviola at Barcelona between 2001 and 2003 by chance? My favorite player and era. Loved the Kluivert, Saviola and Rivaldo triangle

What battle?! Maldini had him in his pocket all throughout.

I didn’t realise how brilliant Maldini was

I can assure you HD 1080p was available at this game; it wasnt 1983!

Maldini is such a legend. Best defender ever. Only player I've ever seen give him serious problems were pre-injury Brazilian Ronaldo.

Ronaldo just started to open his wings on this time….Maldini was a teacher on this time…

That's pure brain. Actually the seasons that I enjoyed Maldini the most were his last ones. No legs, zero agility, relying only on technique, experience and brains. And it damn worked to the point that in a crucial game he'd surely be starting. In this game he knows that if he gives one inch of space to Ronaldo to explode he's doomed. He denies his favourite outlets for exploding, stays close and tries to anticipate all of the time (helps to have Stam covering him, too). He was the best of his generation by far, maybe one of the best ever.

Capitano e Campione vero. Paolo Maldini per sempre una leggenda del calcio.

0:58 that touch tho 🔥🔥

Even at 36 y.o. he could keep up with Ronaldo. What a legend.

Milan jaman dulu fantastis!

He really pockets Ronaldo

da ragazzo si allenava con van basten e gullit, mentre per gran parte della sua carriera ha avuto a che fare con gente come maradona, baggio, romario, ronaldo il fenomeno, zidane, del piero, trezeguet, batistuta, nedved, raul... li ha affrontati tutti e li ha marcati tutti.

Maldini is the top, he spent his entire career at a high level facing three football generations (Maradona, R9, CR7 so ​​to speak), also a pillar of the Italian national team (2002 could have been their year, unfortunately Moreno was along the way), furthermore, in 2003 he would deserved the golden ball (my opinion) Always with great class and continuity Ramos is a defender whose game I love, he also knows how to score a lot of goals for his role, but guys, we have very big differences here Having said that... think what a defense it is to have them together

Ronaldo was 18 in the video, and maldini was 34

Maldini my favourite, you will never get a man like that with that kind of mentally in today's football.

Los 2 mejores futbolistas en la historia de la champions league y por ende los 2 mejores de la historia enfrentándose, lastima que no fue en el prime de ambos

THE Italian and Milan captain. Forever

some pendu fans be sayin that young ronaldo was better than young messi at dribbling, young messi made maldini scared without maldini even facing him.

Paolo Maldini hacía trizas a CR7 Y MESSI JUNTOS!

Would love to see prime CR7 against prime Maldini, that would be wonderful to watch. Maldini was brilliant in 1 on 1 while CR7 is really hard to defend in that situation. 😍😍😲

Paolo sei unico!

All i got from this video was that maldini and 2 other defender trying to close down cris

Maldini is GOAT of defender

Maldini and modric at this age still playing like class wow

“Name one defender and team ronaldo hasn’t destroyed🤡” Ac Milan and the 🐐 Maldini

Both teams had better players back then. The level in football dropped during 2010s.

He was a beast.

Special moment , the legacy of football ❤

I've always been into players like Maldini, Nesta, Makelele, Vieira, Gullit, Seedorf.... Those old school box to box midfielders and defenders.

Maldini is perfect player

He is the best of all time

Man I remember these days. That's was some great football. And Cafu was a monster on the other side of the defense as well. Whenever Ronaldo would want to drift to the other side for more opportunities, he(Cafu) was waiting 😂.

good defending is never about hard tackle, sliding tackle and last ditch tackle. it is about game reading and positioning.

FootBall Legends

Such defenders are rare if not extinct in Italy.

I miss this era of football.

Maldini...the absolute GOAT at ANY age and EVERY age. FORZA MILAN SEMPRE!!!! ❤🖤

When you can see the talent on a center back.

Ronaldo has literally played and played against with every legendary players that are mentioned by pes

Messi and Ronaldo Phenomenon at that age🔥 even Fabio Capello and Mourinho acknowledge monster

He is better than Ramos in defending but, in my opinion, also in leading and be the captain. Better to not even mention VVD

Best left back ever

Goat 🐐 Maldini

C ronaldo is a guy that does the basics very very well. You cannot deny his drive and career longevity. TO get the better of Maldini (sometimes) you need to be like an R9, Ronaldinho, Messi type player who can make magic happen and or have explosive acceleration and impeccable close control. R9 at his peak was the best player I've ever had the pleasure of watching in my 35 years.

Legends

I don't remember the picture quality being this bad. This looks like its from the 90s 😆

For me Messi and Maldini are the greatest players ever.

Maldini is the GOAT of defending.

I remember this game when I was just entering secondary school. Giggs had a bloody nose and hit the woodwork. This match probably forced Ferguson to buy a new GK as Howard and that Welsh GK were just not up to it. Milan were amazing that season but I still can't understand how they didn't win the UCL.

With a lot of class Maldini took care of Ronaldo.

quanto era forte maldini

i remember thinking it was crazy that a player as Ronaldo started at MU

Maldini conducted a defensive symphony!🇮🇹⚽

Maldini was a versatile player

As an Inter fan I have nothing but absolute respect for this legend who made all Interista's lives miserable for over 2 decades.

🔥🔥🔥

I remember only Waddle made Maldini crazy 😮

Would have been something special to see both in prime clashing

Maldini is forever a legend!

Maldini's presence on the pitch was enough. He was like great wall, a shield 🛡️ that's hard to break.

Forget CR7, Maldini had faced R9 prime and Maradona prime.