Fellow countryman of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, has bestowed high praise upon him, recognizing him as one of the greatest players to emerge from Africa.
Drogba’s illustrious career, predominantly with Chelsea, was marked by numerous achievements, particularly his ability to deliver in crucial moments, scoring vital goals in multiple finals, including Chelsea’s memorable UEFA Champions League victory in 2012.
In 2015, Drogba returned to Chelsea for a six-month loan spell under former manager Jose Mourinho, contributing to the team’s success by adding another Premier League title to his collection, making it a total of four during his initial eight-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Despite his eventual rise to prominence, Drogba faced challenges early on in his career.
Interestingly, he initially started as a right-back, and in case his football aspirations did not materialize, he had a backup plan as a registered accountant, as reported by Sports Brief.
Toure names Drogba scariest opponent
The Ivorian striker was a nightmare for defenders with his strength, quick feet, and powerful shots, with even midfielders scared of his ability to turn games around.
His compatriot, Toure, has named Drogba the player he feared playing against the most during his career and for a reason he called the 44-year-old’s greatest strength.
“The guy who I always feared to play against the most was [Drogba]. For me, his header was stronger than his shot,” Toure said on BBC MOTD, via ESPN UK.
The two faced off a few times during Champions League games between Chelsea and Barcelona, as well as during their time in the Premier League.
Both share a combined six African Footballer of the Year awards between them, with the former Manchester City midfielder picking up four consecutively between 2011-2014, per Sky Sports.
The former Barcelona star also helped his country win an Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015, a feat Drogba and co. fell just short of in 2012.
Bonucci names Drogba strongest opponent
Sports Brief also reported on Leonardo Bonucci naming Drogba his strongest opponent and one of the strikers that made him lose sleep ahead of games.
The pair faced each other a couple of times in the EPL, but the Italian mentioned a specific game between Juventus and Galatasaray he still thinks about.