One of the most respected football journalists in the country has paid tribute to the retiring Jamie Carragher - describing his extra-time performance in Istanbul as the best he's ever seen.

We asked Daily Telegraph columnist Henry Winter - who ghost wrote Kenny Dalglish's autobiography and co-wrote Steven Gerrard's - to share his thoughts on Carra.

This is what he wrote...

It was the greatest individual half-hour display I've ever seen.

There had been so many good performances for Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, notably from Steven Gerrard in the second half. But Jamie Carragher's defending in extra-time was unbelievable.

Cramp seemed to have taken up residence in Carragher's legs but he kept going, kept making challenges, notably to frustrate Andrei Shevchenko. His strength of character denied Milan.

Goalscorers invariably claim the headlines and the glory. Gerrard's name was up in lights the following morning but Carragher's resilience helped Liverpool keep Milan's late rally at bay.

One of the most iconic images from Istanbul was of Carragher trying to get the cramp out of his legs. He had his hands on a goal-post, pushing hard with his foot rammed in the ground, trying to get the cramp out.

This was the night when legends were made.

Carragher's reputation was always well-established at Anfield but his place in Liverpool hearts was cemented even more.

His example helped inspire the others. They could see how much this meant, that their reputations would be made by these fleeting minutes. Liverpool had worked so hard to get back in the final from 3-0 down.

At half-time, some Liverpool fans wandered up to the press box for a chat. They were considering going back into town for a consolatory drink. It all seemed over here. But they thought of Gerrard and Carragher and knew that all was not lost.