Janmaat hails Robben as unstoppable, just below Messi

Former Dutch international Daryl Janmaat, a 34‑cap midfielder, praised his ex‑teammate Arjen Robben, the 96‑cap winger, during the Studio Oranje broadcast at 17:30, describing the latter as “not stoppable” and just below Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their prime. Janmaat’s comments were part of a broader discussion that also touched on the contrasting philosophies of Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman, as well as the prospects of Brian Brobbey and Denzel Dumfries.

Both Janmaat and Robben earned caps for the Netherlands senior team and shared the pitch together in several matches. Their partnership in the national side linked Janmaat’s midfield duties with Robben’s attacking flair.

Janmaat assessed Robben’s right foot as marginally inferior to the dribbling prowess of Lionel Messi. He placed Cristiano Ronaldo’s right foot a step above Robben’s, establishing a hierarchy of elite right‑footed players.

Janmaat said, “Messi en Ronaldo zijn in hun prime echt buitencategorie. Daar kan niemand aan tippen, maar Robben kwam er net onder. Robben was zo goed en hij was niet te verdedigen. Iedereen wist altijd wat hij ging doen, maar alsnog was hij niet te stoppen.”

He added, “Ik heb nog nooit zo’n jongen gezien. Wij zaten al in de bus en hij zat in het krachthonk. Dat ging voor mij te ver.”

The Studio Oranje episode also featured analysis of the tactical rivalry between Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman. Further segments highlighted the emerging talents of Brian Brobbey and the defensive contributions of Denzel Dumfries.

Listeners can watch the full Studio Oranje program featuring Janmaat’s interview on the official website or stream it via Spotify. The episode provides a comprehensive look at the Dutch national team’s past and future prospects.