Rio: My Greatest Influences

Rio Ferdinand reveals the people, places, matches and Manchester United moments that have inspired him in his career. Click the main image to view our favourite Rio pics...

Greatest footballer I’ve ever seen… Diego Maradona is the best footballer that has ever lived. He was my hero growing up and one of the key inspirations for me growing up. What he did to England in the 1986 World Cup, that goal – not the Hand of God one, the other one – the skill on show was just a dream to watch. I loved everything about the way he played the game. It was like poetry in motion.

Greatest game I’ve been involved in… That would have to be the 7-1 win against AS Roma. I just remember Sir Alex saying after the game that you get that kind of result once in a lifetime. That was the moment when everything clicked and every single one of our players deserved 8 or 9 marks out of 10 that night. We would have beaten any team in the world in that match.

Greatest place I’ve visited… I can’t say one, to be honest. I’ll have to name a couple. Israel… Tel Aviv is an unbelievable place to go to. I had a fantastic time there: the weather, the food, the people. Sydney is up there now. I’ve just been there with United. I had a really good time and I’d like to take my family out there. I really like Asia; I like Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea. I’ve always had a really good time when I’ve gone to those places.

Greatest person I’ve ever met… Nelson Mandela. If you’re talking inspirations, he is the inspiration. For someone to sacrifice their life for a nation of people and still harbour no ill feeling to anyone, I think we can all learn something from that. I find it hard to imagine how one person can achieve what he has, it’s incredible.

Greatest thing about being a Red… Just to be a part of the club’s history. When you read up about Manchester United’s history and the club’s tradition, to immerse yourself in that and become a part of that is a great achievement in itself. To do it while winning silverware makes it that much better. Our fans, wherever we go around the world, are the best fans in the world. So that’s just the best feeling - to be part of that.