You may not have heard of the man Thierry Henry called his toughest opponent ever

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Arsenal legend Thierry Henry faced some formidable players in his time, but there was one that tops the list as the most difficult the Frenchman has ever come across.

Thierry Henry is, undeniably, a legend of the game. At Arsenal, he won two Premier League titles, including the unbeaten “Invincibles” season, three FA Cups, and two Community Shields.

With Barcelona, he claimed two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup. This isn’t to mention his MLS and Ligue 1 stints either.

And in this turbulent career, the French striker faced thousands of opponents, but he deemed one somewhat forgotten talent as one of the hardest to stand up against.

Thierry Henry says Taribo West was his most difficult opponent

Henry said his toughest ever opponent was former Nigeria international and Inter Milan star Taribo West.

Explaining his decision, the Frenchman told CBS Sports presenter Kate Abdo in 2022: “For a direct opponent – wow, that is tough. I will go back in the day to Taribo West.

“They [Auxerre] were man marking, and he would follow you everywhere – even in the dressing room.”

Henry also gave a mention to Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, but that one is a little more obvious than the ‘old school’ shout of West.

Who is Taribo West?

• Position: Centre-back
• Date of Birth: March 26th 1974
• Place of Birth: Port Harcourt, Nigeria
• Height: 1.86 m

West is a former Nigerian centre-back known for being a tough figure in defence, as well as for his eccentric hairstyles, which certainly made him stand out on the pitch. He played for some seriously big clubs, including both Inter and AC Milan.

Born in 1974 in Port Harcourt, he started his career in Nigeria before moving to Europe, where he played for top clubs like the Milano sides, Auxerre, where he faced Henry, and even Derby County!

Internationally, West earned 42 caps for Nigeria, winning Olympic gold in 1996 and playing in two World Cups.

West is also remembered by many as a bit of a cult hero in the gaming statosphere, with the Nigerian a highly sought-after player in Championship Manager 01/02, known for being a free transfer who everyone would seemingly acquire.

After retiring in 2007, he became a pastor and founded a ministry focusing on charity and outreach. He’s left a lasting impression on many, but in particular Henry – that’s for sure.