Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand claims old rival Vincent Kompany has a long way to go before he can be classed as the best defender on the planet.
The ex-England international, who left Old Trafford earlier in the summer following 12 trophy-laden years at the club, believes the Manchester City skipper still trails Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva.
The towering Brazil centre-half is, according to Ferdinand, the leading player of his kind in world football, despite the likes of Belgium talisman Kompany and Borussia Dortmund hardman Mats Hummels receiving rave reviews from observers.
Ferdinand took part in a question and answer session on social media site Twitter, during which he discussed a variety of football topics.
One of his followers asked him: “Rio in your eyes, who is the best central defender in the world at present – Silva, Kompany or Hummels?”
The 35-year-old replied: “Silva by a long way.”
Silva has been a key figure in Brazil’s attempts to win the World Cup on home soil this summer, but he will sit out tomorrow night’s eagerly-anticipated semi-final showdown with Germany due to suspension.
He joins injured striker Neymar on the sidelines, meaning head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will arguably be without his best two players during the last-four clash.