If the challenge of coming up against a bang-in-form Tottenham Hotspur is not tough enough already, coming up against the world’s best defender makes it that little bit harder. That’s the view of Lionel Messi, who believes no one is better than Cristian Romero right now.
The 25-year-old is in the form of his life. He helped Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and then came in for special praise from Messi recently following the victory over Ecuador in a CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifier. Messi grabbed the headlines with a stunning free-kick to win it.
However, he made the revelation about Romero to reporters afterwards. He said: “For me, he is the best defender in the world right now. Amazing performance tonight, man of the match.”
Sheffield United will have to find a way past the central defender if they are to return from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with a result on Saturday. Not only is he part of the reason why Ange Postecoglou’s side have kept two clean sheets out of four matches, but he’s also a threat at the opposite end, weighing in with two goals already in the 2-2 draw at Brentford and 5-2 win at Burnley.
Blades pair Oli McBurnie and Cameron Archer got their strike partnership off to a positive start, with McBurnie providing an assist for Archer’s first and the new signing then seeing his effort go in for the second off Jordan Pickford.
It offered plenty of encouragement for the season but the pair will have to be at their best if they are to get any change out of Romero on Saturday. Speaking about Messi’s comments this week, Postecoglou admits the Argentine defender is someone he ‘wouldn’t like to play against’.
He told TalkSport: “Who am I to argue with Messi? I tell you what, I wouldn’t like to play against him. Most of the boys here don’t like to train against him. He’s a real competitor and I love that about him.
“Whether it’s training or a game, what you see is what you get with Romero.”
Full lists of Tottenham Hotspur team Injured players, suspended vs. Sheffield United
On the back of a stellar start to life under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur’s first Premier League game after the international hiatus sees Sheffield United visit North London on Saturday afternoon.
Only Manchester City have performed better than the Lilywhites so far this term, with Postecoglou’s side winning three and drawing one of their opening four matches to sit second in the fledgling rankings.
Spurs began the month of September in scintillating form too, thumping newly-promoted Burnley 5-2 to continue their sequence of scoring at least twice in every game under Postecoglou.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up Tottenham’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with the Blades, who remain winless in the Premier League this season courtesy of a 2-2 draw with Everton last time out.
Rodrigo Bentancur
Tottenham injury, suspension list vs. Sheffield United
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: October 23 (vs. Fulham)
Rodrigo Bentancur has spent the last seven months recuperating from his ACL tear, but there is hope that the Uruguayan might be reintroduced into the first-team picture at some point in October.
Ryan Sessegnon
Tottenham injury, suspension list vs. Sheffield United
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: October 23 (vs. Fulham)
Similarly, Ryan Sessegnon may also be aiming for a comeback close to Halloween time as he recovers from hamstring surgery – the latest in a long line of issues for the injury-plagued Englishman.
Bryan Gil
Tottenham injury, suspension list vs. Sheffield United
Status: Out
Type of injury: Groin
Possible return date: October 23 (vs. Fulham)
Bryan Gil underwent an operation on a groin problem before the start of the season, and the Spanish youngster – whose Tottenham career is yet to take off – will not be returning for another few weeks at the very least.
Giovani Lo Celso
Tottenham injury, suspension list vs. Sheffield United
Status: Out
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: September 24 (vs. Arsenal)
Giovani Lo Celso – who decided against a move away from Tottenham during the summer window – picked up a quadriceps injury against Fulham in the EFL Cup on August 29 and has not been available for club or country since. While a comeback this weekend is thought to be beyond the realm of possibility, he could return for the North London derby with Arsenal on September 24.
Alfie Whiteman
Tottenham injury, suspension list vs. Sheffield United
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
As is the case with Bentancur, Sessegnon and Gil, backup goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman is also on the long road to recovery from surgery – having gone under the knife to address an ankle concern – and Spurs have not put a timeframe on his rehabilitation.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR’S SUSPENSION LIST
Tottenham have no players suspended for this match.