Nigerian football star, Alex Iwobi, has weighed in on football’s most enduring debate, placing Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo after facing both players during his career.
Alex Iwobi shared his view on the Beast Mode Podcast, explaining that first-hand encounters with the two superstars shaped his opinion.
Iwobi said, “That’s a tough one. I always say Messi when asked the age-old Messi or Ronaldo question,” adding, “When I played against Ronaldo. Don’t get me wrong, the aura is crazy.”
The Nigerian international said his meetings with Ronaldo during Premier League clashes between Everton F.C. and Manchester United F.C. left a strong impression, particularly the forward’s efficiency in the latter stages of his career.
“When I played Ronaldo, he was at a different stage of his career; he was just efficient, getting the ball and going to score,” he said.
One of their most memorable meetings came at Goodison Park in October 2022, when Iwobi scored before Ronaldo came off the bench to net his 700th club goal, helping United win 2-1.
The pair also crossed paths in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in November 2021 and again in April 2022 when Everton secured a crucial win in their relegation fight.
Yet Iwobi said his experience facing Messi left a deeper mark. He recalled his first Champions League start for Arsenal against Barcelona at Camp Nou in March 2016, when he encountered a star-studded Barcelona side.
The Fulham star recalled: “But when I played against Messi at the Nou Camp, there was Messi, Neymar, Suarez, Iniesta, Xavi, Dani Alves, there was just names on names on names. This was my first Champions League start, and I’m walking out, bare fans, and all I’m hearing is Messi, Messi, Messi.”
He described the Argentine’s control of space and tempo as overwhelming.
“Whereas when I played against Messi, every time he had the ball, there was like a radius around him where no one could enter and tackle him. It was mad; no one could get near him,” he said.
Iwobi said the defeat remains one of the most memorable nights of his career.
“I will never forget my Champions League debut, the MSN, Messi, Neymar, Suarez, they all scored. It was the perfect loss for me, I’ve never enjoyed a loss like that,” Iwobi noted.
He also faced Messi at the international level during Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, where Messi opened the scoring.
