Childhood friends and fellow Frenchmen, Kurt Zouma’s World XI teammates from West Ham

One of the best defenders in the game was John Terry, who I had the privilege of playing with for around three years. Initially, I was intimidated by him when I first joined Chelsea, but he was instrumental in helping me adapt to the tough Premier League. Terry taught me how to deal with the best strikers and how to be a leader on the field. His focus and dedication in training was unmatched, and he was truly unbelievable.

Nayef Aguerd is another exceptional centre-back with a powerful left foot. When he joined West Ham, we quickly formed a strong connection and became good friends. His left foot is simply remarkable, and he possesses all the qualities to be one of the best in his position. Playing with Aguerd is a joy, and I admire his kind soul.

Faouzi Ghoulam, a left-back who I came through the academy with at Saint-Étienne, has excelled in Italy with Napoli and now plays for Hatayspor in Turkey. Ghoulam’s left foot is exceptional, and having played alongside him for several years, I can confidently say he is one of the best left-sided defenders I have ever seen.