Harry Maguire’s toughest opponent pick echoes what Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez both experienced

Harry Maguire’s admiration for one standout opponent very much reaffirmed the huge credit that Manchester United duo Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez showed as well.

The 33-year-old former Manchester United captain is out of contract next summer after he inked his latest 12-month extension during the 2025-26 campaign.

However, Harry Maguire remains a key central defensive pick for Michael Carrick alongside Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw in the United first-team squad.

Shaw, Martinez and Maguire have all had different experiences as well when it comes to their time with England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.

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Harry Maguire’s praise for Harry Kane has been mirrored by Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez for the striker’s true quality

Both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have played alongside former Manchester United target Harry Kane on the international stage with England. However, the two United defenders have crossed paths with Kane as opponents at club level.

Lisandro Martinez, on the other hand, has faced the 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker at club level and against England, including during Argentina’s World Cup campaign in the summer.

Speaking to Viaplay, Maguire was asked a series of different Q&As about football and one included the toughest striker that he has ever played against. The United defender had no other name that came to mind than Kane, who signed for Bayern Munich back in 2023.

Maguire’s ultimate praise follows on from the major admiration that Shaw showed for Kane after he dubbed the striker the “best in the world” for what he does on the pitch.

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“For me, Harry is the best striker in the world,” Shaw said, as per The Daily Mirror in 2021.

“He is a very important part of this team. In fact, almost the most important part of the team. Whether he has been at his best or not, he is a crucial player for us.”

While he has not played alongside Kane like Maguire or Shaw, Man Utd defender Martinez felt the England captain’s quality when he was still at Tottenham.

“I think we were very solid tonight, in defence,” Martinez said after United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford in 2022, as per the Manchester Evening News.

“They [Tottenham] have some of the best players in the league; they have a lot of quality, they’re very strong, very technical as well. I think we controlled the game tonight.”

Kane is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world and the former Tottenham striker has left a lasting impression on Maguire, Shaw and Martinez.