“Yaya Toure was better than me growing up. I don’t mind that my brother was a better footballer” Kolo Toure picks his Perfect XI

Kolo Toure has candidly revealed that his younger brother Yaya was the superior footballer during their formative years, a humble admission from the former Arsenal and Liverpool defender who enjoyed a stellar career spanning nearly two decades. The Ivorian centre-back, who made 328 Premier League appearances and won multiple trophies at the Emirates Stadium, acknowledged that Yaya's exceptional talent was evident from their youth in Ivory Coast before the Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder became one of Africa's greatest players. Kolo's willingness to celebrate his brother's superior abilities demonstrates the mutual respect between two siblings who represented their nation with distinction across Europe's elite competitions.

During his playing career, Kolo Toure shared dressing rooms with some of football's most distinguished talents across his time in the Premier League and beyond. At Arsenal, he formed defensive partnerships during the Invincibles era and worked alongside world-class midfielders including Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, winning three Premier League titles between 2003 and 2004. His subsequent move to Liverpool in 2009 exposed him to further quality, competing against and learning from players at the highest level of English football for another eight seasons. These experiences at two of England's most prestigious clubs provided Toure with an encyclopaedic knowledge of elite footballers from his generation.

Toure's selection of his Perfect XI reflects a career spent observing and competing against exceptional athletes across multiple decades of professional football. The defender's choices showcase his appreciation for both defensive solidity and attacking prowess, principles that defined his own playing philosophy throughout his career. Now established in coaching and ambassadorial roles, Toure continues to contribute to football's development while maintaining close ties to the clubs where he achieved his greatest successes, remaining a respected figure within the sport who bridges the experiences of modern football with the tactical nuances of previous eras.