Jermain Defoe names the two best players he ever played with | Football

Jermain Defoe has picked out the two best players he ever played alongside as Luka Modric and Steven Gerrard.

Defoe’s brilliant career saw him turn out for the likes of Tottenham, West Ham, Portsmouth, Sunderland and England.

The striker won 57 caps for his country, scoring 20 goals, one of which came at the 2010 World Cup.

The 42-year-old played with a long list of top players for both club and country, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard not making the cut for his best teammates.

It was his former Spurs colleague Modric and England teammate Gerrard that stand out as the best he’s ever played alongside.

‘Luka Modric and Steven Gerrard,’ Defoe told Flashscore of the best teammates of his career.

‘One Ballon d’Or winner and the other could have won a Ballon d’Or.’

Not that the Liverpool legend needs any justification for being mentioned, but Defoe offers the endorsement of a certain Zinedine Zidane, who has always been a big fan of Gerrard.

‘You have just got to hear what Zidane said about him,’ said Defoe. ‘Zidane loves him and if Zidane is saying that about you then you must be special.’

Indeed the Frenchman saw Gerrard as the best on the planet at his pomp, saying in 2013: ‘For two or three years, Steven Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world.

‘Gerrard has been loyal to Liverpool throughout his career, which is great for them. But if he had wanted to leave four or five years ago then every top club in Europe would have tried to sign him. And they would have probably had to break the transfer record to do it.’

Turning his gaze to the current stars of the Premier League, Defoe is a huge fan of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who he feels could be a huge hit at Arsenal or Liverpool if he makes a move in the summer.

‘Whoever gets him in the summer, whether that’s Liverpool or Arsenal, speaking about making a difference and getting over the line, he’s the one,’ he said of the Swede.

‘And it isn’t just the goals. Against Arsenal (in Newcastle’s 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg victory), the problems he is causing (William) Saliba and Gabriel (Magalhaes), you just don’t see that. Not even (Erling) Haaland does that.

‘His movement. He doesn’t look strong, but he is strong. He knows how to use his body. When he gets chances, he is just ruthless. He is the one I’ve enjoyed watching and just thought, even years ago against the better defenders – the John Terrys, the Rio Ferdinands, the Jaap Stams – he would have given those defenders problems as well.

‘Coming up against him, defenders know, this is going to be tough. This guy is serious. Give him half a chance, and he will punish you. Any mistake you are going to get punished.’

MORE: Viktor Gyokeres wants to join three Premier League clubs ahead of Man Utd

MORE: Arsenal star Declan Rice slammed over ’embarrassing’ moment during Man Utd clash

MORE: Chelsea told they will ‘never win the Premier League’ with £25m player