a A new chapter has appeared in the sporting rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, thanks to the Premier League star.
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi recognizes the immense talent of these two icons of modern football, but one holds a special place in his heart, naming him the ‘best player in the world’.
Iwobi chooses his GOAT
For more than 20 years, the debate over naming the greatest man of all time (GOAT) has pitted two names against each other. Cristiano and Lionel. Together, they won 13 Ballon d’Or awards and left an indelible legacy.
That is why when Iwobi was asked which of the two stars he would choose, the former Arsenal player did not hesitate to name the Argentine.
“I always say Messi. It was different because when I played against Ronaldo the aura was amazing, but when I played against him at Camp Nou there were Neymar,[Luis]Sulez,[Andrus]Iniesta, Xavi, Dani Alves, Victor Valls and a lot of other names,” he said on the Beast Mode On podcast (via GOAL).
Iwobi then recalled Arsenal’s heavy defeat to Rose in the Champions League round of 16 second leg in March 2016, and gave some interesting details about his first impressions of Leo.
“This was my first start in the Champions League and when I walk out all I hear is ‘Messi, Messi’. Hey, hey, there are other superstars! I’m looking to the left and by the way they’re all small “Neymar is very small. Messi is small, small, small. In my head, I thought, ‘Oh, no way’. There’s no way this guy has that kind of presence,” he revealed.
On the other hand, he also compared his experience playing against the Portuguese star and distinguished him from Messi.
Obviously, when I played Ronaldo he was at a different stage in his career. He’s just as efficient. If he gets the ball, he’ll score. Whereas, when we played against Messi, every time he had the ball, there was like a radius where no one could get in there and tackle him.
Meanwhile, both the Argentine and the Portuguese continue to build on their legacies. At the age of 38, Leo shines with Inter Miami and is the current MLS Cup champion, while the Portuguese star continues to score goals for Al Nasr despite turning 41 this year.
Furthermore, both are expected to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Messi defending the title he won in 2022 and CR7 aiming to bring home their first ever trophy.
