Jermain Defoe picks his greatest goal, teammate, opponent and dream five-a-side

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 17 March 2023

Jermain Defoe speaks to Sports Mole about his greatest goal, the best player he played with and against, and his dream five-a-side from former teammates.

Throughout a professional career spanning 22 years and 820 appearances, Jermain Defoe has a plethora of highlights to look back on.

A trophy-winner at Tottenham Hotspur, a league title winner at Rangers and a 57-time England international, the prolific striker established himself as one of the Premier League's deadliest marksmen during his time in the top flight.

Only eight players have ever scored more Premier League goals than the former Spurs, Sunderland and Portsmouth striker, so there is no shortage of goals to pick from when selecting his best ever.

The same is true for his best teammate and opponent, with Defoe either playing with or against legends including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane at various stages of his career.

Choosing the best of the lot is no easy task, then, but that is the challenge Sports Mole set Defoe, with some eye-catching answers.

Best goal

"Probably the volley against Newcastle for Sunderland, because it was on my weaker foot, the magnitude of the game. It was just one of those goals, the volley was just perfect. I just connected with it perfect.

"If you practice that in training 100 times, only one will go in - the rest will be in the car park. It was just perfect contact and it was the best goal I've scored."

Favourite goal

"The fifth one... oh no, probably the one in the World Cup against Slovenia, the volley from the cross.

"Again, magnitude of the game, we had to win, it was at the World Cup - that's the pinnacle. You can't get any bigger than that in terms of football matches."

Best player you played with

Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe (L) celebrates his second goal against Charlton Athletic with Luka Modric (R) during their FA Cup soccer match at White Hart Lane in London January 9, 2011 © Reuters

"I'm going to say Luka Modric. Ballon d'Or winner, and still playing! He's 37 now and he seems even quicker! What a player, unbelievable."

Best player you played against

Thierry Henry playing for Arsenal © Reuters

"Thierry Henry. I'm trying to think of players where I thought: 'Wow, you're on another level'. Premier League I think Thierry Henry just took the game to another level.

"He just made everything look so easy, he had everything. He scored goals, was quicker than everyone, stronger than everyone, was two steps ahead in his head. He was just on another planet."

Dream five-a-side of players you played with

England's Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe react during a 2010 World Cup Group C soccer match against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth June 23, 2010 © Reuters