Vinnie Jones, one of football’s ultimate hardmen, once named the five toughest opponents he ever faced. The former Wimbledon midfielder played in an era when blood, sweat, and tears were poured into every game, and referees often turned a blind eye to the antics of mavericks who would do anything to get inside an opponent’s head.
The most famous image of Jones came during a clash between Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang and Newcastle, when he grabbed Paul Gascoigne by the testicles to put him off. The photo became iconic, perfectly capturing his in-your-face style. But in a time that was anything but PG, ‘The Axe’, as he was nicknamed by some, was far from the only hardman on the pitch.
In a 2012 interview with the Daily Mail, Jones revealed the five players even he admitted to fearing, despite his fearless reputation. Surprisingly, Duncan Ferguson did not make the cut.
Vinnie Jones Named 5 Hardest Players He Played Against
89/90 Vinnie Jones – Leeds United Mandatory Credit:Acton Images
Bryan Robson – Manchester United
In the world of football hardmen, Roy Keane’s voice carries real weight – so the fact he described his former captain, Bryan Robson, as “tough as nails, brave, and a proper leader” tells you everything you need to know about Manchester United’s ‘Captain Marvel.’
Robson was a no-nonsense midfielder who played the entire 1982 World Cup with a dislocated shoulder, and teammates often remarked that when he went in for a 50/50 challenge, it was really more like 80/20 in his favour.
Steve McMahon – Liverpool
Named by Vinnie Jones as his ‘Only Real Rival’ for the title of ‘Hardest Man in Football’, Steve McMahon brought a certain steel to the Liverpool team of the late-80s that claimed three league titles and two FA Cups with their free-flowing system. “I’d kick my own brother if necessary – it’s what being a professional footballer is all about,” McMahon once said.
Even when he was being taken out by Jones at Wembley, he managed to give some back – elbowing the Wimbledon man in his cheek on the way down, leaving a scar that Jones still wears today. During a clash at Anfield later on, he would get full revenge, too, when his studs-up challenge left Jones’ foot requiring eight stitches.
Terry Hurlock – Millwall
Terry Hurlock in action for Millwall
Terry Hurlock was sent off 13 times in his career and booked more than 100 times – astonishing even for that era. Players often joked that he looked more like a nightclub bouncer than a footballer, and that his glare alone could put you off your game.
He was called up to the England B team in 1989, which shocked some pundits who said his style was “too brutal” for international football. But it also showed how respected he was for his sheer presence. Dubbed ‘Terry Warlock’, Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock revealed that Hurlock once ripped a pub door out of a wall when asked what he was going to do to Vinnie Jones when Millwall played Wimbledon, leaving his teammates in shock.
Roy Keane – Manchester United
This list could surely not have been complete unless Keane featured. There’s no doubt he was a special footballer, but it was his extra bite into tackles which earned him the respect but also – at times – the disrespect of his teammates and opponents. Just ask Alf-Inge Haaland, who was on the receiving end of a challenge widely regarded as one of the worst in Premier League history.
Famous for his memorable battles with Patrick Vieira, his surprisingly lovable personality has trickled over into his punditry career. ‘Keano’ can be spotted next to the likes of Gary Neville and Micah Richards, bemoaning about how ‘football has changed’, although he may have mellowed slightly in recent years.
Carlton Palmer – Sheffield Wednesday
Carlton Palmer
Carlton Palmer’s reputation is a bit different from someone like Hurlock or Keane. He wasn’t really considered a “hardman” in the same sense – his name is more often remembered for his stamina, awkward-but-effective style, and the fact he was as tall and strong as he was fast.
“There were so many good lads playing in my day you were always guaranteed a battle,” Jones said. “If I had to pick the hardest out I’d go for Bryan Robson, Steve McMahon, Terry Hurlock, Roy Keane and Carlton Palmer. Why Carlton? He was so big, he’d run away from you and you’d never catch him!”
Iran may be forced to break a strict FIFA rule at the 2026 World Cup due to a controversial new demand imposed by the United States.
The Iranian national team, who were previously warned by US President Donald Trump to stay away from this summer’s showpiece international tournament due to political hostilities between the two countries, have been impacted by reported visas refusals to “key managerial and administrative” members of its World Cup team this week.
Hedayat Mombeini, the Iran Football Federation’s secretary-general, along with vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, are among 14 backroom staff and officials without U.S. visas, Iranian state television have claimed, per ESPN.
Iran’s 2026 World Cup training base is situated in Mexico, despite the fact the team’s three Group G matches are all taking place in the United States (two in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium, and one in Seattle against Egypt).
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, has now told reporters that the national team have been informed they must arrive and leave the United States on the same day for all of their 2026 World Cup matches. Per The Mirror, Pasandideh said:
“We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day.”
Iran May Have to Break FIFA Rule
As well as presenting a host of potential logistical issues, this would also mean that Iran would have no option but to break one of FIFA’s strict tournament rules.
World football’s governing body have made it clear that every team’s coach must give a press conference on the eve of the match at the venue where their next match will be played, according to The Guardian.
However, this may not be possible for Iran if they must enter and leave US soil on the same day as their fixtures.
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With days to go before the tournament begins, Iran have called on FIFA to “hold the US accountable for violations of its rules and for the discriminatory treatment of Iran’s national football team”.
A statement posted on X by Iran’s Embassy in Turkey added: “You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFA regulations and breaches the United States’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves.
“Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team?
“You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.”
An unexpected late change has ruined travel plans with just days to go before the tournament begins
The statement continued: “By extending your whimsical hostilities against the Iranian nation into the realm of sport, the U.S. government in practice is depriving Iran’s national team of its right to play in the World Cup under normal conditions and without undue pressure and stress.
“This represents the worst possible form of politically biased interference in sport.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is likely playing in his last-ever World Cup this summer. His first involvement in a major tournament for Portugal came in Euro 2004, while he won the European Championships competition in 2016, he’s never got his hands on the biggest prize.
Indeed, this will be the sixth World Cup Ronaldo has played in, and almost certainly his final chance to win it. Across the past editions, he’s scored eight goals and picked up two assists in 22 games, but has never made it past the semi-finals. Portugal came fourth in Germany 2006, crashed out at the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2018, didn’t even make it out of the group in 2014, and went out at the quarters in 2022.
Now 41, the Saudi Pro League star is very much past his prime, but will still expect to make a big impact this summer. In fairness, he has scored 10 goals in his last 10 international outings going into the tournament, which suggests he could yet be a real threat for the Portuguese.
At Euro 2024, however, Ronaldo struggled, failing to score as he started all five games before his team were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals. He made plenty of headlines that summer, but one interesting thing eagle-eyed viewers spotted was that he stood at a slightly different angle from his teammates during the Portugal national anthem ahead of kick-off. It’s likely to happen again at the 2026 World Cup, but why does CR7 do it?
Why Cristiano Ronaldo Stands Sideways During Portugal National Anthem
As the Portuguese team line up, side by side to sing ‘A Portuguesa’, Ronaldo instead often chooses to stand sideways in the lineup. He does so as a way of showing how much love and respect he has for his nation.
Indeed, the Al Nassr striker positions himself differently to make sure that he is facing the Portugal flag wherever it is flying in the stadium. Beyond anything else, this is simply an act of patriotism.
This has been a tradition of the captain throughout his career as a sign of respect for his home nation. Some may laugh at this idiosyncratic behaviour, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt the veteran forward.
Indeed, Ronaldo has scored more goals for Portugal than any other player in international football. In fact, he’s scored more goals in the sport than anyone else, so his methods ought not to be questioned when it comes to pre-game superstitions.
Ronaldo’s International Record
Games
227
Goals
143
Assists
46
Major Tournaments
11*
Tournament Wins
1 (Euro 2016)
*Will become 12 once Ronaldo plays at the 2026 World Cup
Roberto Martinez Backs Ronaldo: ‘Age is Only a Number’
Ronaldo won Euro 2016 but was injured during the final. His absence in that game may be pointed out by those critics who suggest Portugal would be better off without him. Manager Roberto Martinez is often questioned about the matter, but has insisted that the 41-year-old is in the team based on merit, not reputation.
Speaking to the press about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner ahead of the tournament, the Portugal manager explained:
“We manage the Cristiano Ronaldo that plays for the national team trying to get into the squad for 2026, not the iconic figure.
“Age is only a number. Certainly in the national team we can measure exactly what’s happening on the day, and you make the decisions for the next day. You never look any longer than the next day.”
Portugal come up against DR Congo in their first Group K match, before meeting Uzbekistan and Colombia. Ronaldo will almost certainly start some of those games, and it will be interesting to see how he lines up during the national anthem.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
A heartbroken Max Verstappen completely lost his head over the Red Bull team radio after being forced to retire from the Monaco Grand Prix just moments into the race.
The four-time world champion was second on the grid for Sunday’s race but was robbed of his opportunity to compete at Circuit de Monaco after his car stalled on the grid immediately after lights out.
The Dutchman was eventually able to get his engine running, but he was cut adrift at the back of the field by the time he did so.
Verstappen took to his radio to ask his team: “What do I do?” He was told: “Bring it home, Max”, essentially confirming his retirement from the race.
As he was making his way back to the pits, Verstappen made his frustrations perfectly clear in an x-rated rant about the state of his car.
“Well. Nice. Completely f***** guys. What the f*** man. Even at the formation lap, the engine is broken.”
Verstappen was already 88 points behind Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli heading into the race. After his retirement in Monaco, he is set to lose even more ground.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
