Iwobi Rates Messi Higher Than Ronaldo After Iconic Matches

Alex Iwobi, the Nigerian international footballer, has rated Lionel Messi above Cristiano Ronaldo after having faced both superstars during his career. In a discussion on the "Beast Mode" podcast, Iwobi recounted his first encounter with Ronaldo during a Premier League match between Everton F.C. and Manchester United on October 2022, where he scored while Ronaldo netted his 700th club goal, contributing to a 2-1 victory for Manchester United.

They also met during 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. However, Iwobi noted that his experience against Messi left a more profound impact, recalling his first Champions League start for Arsenal against Barcelona at Camp Nou in March 2016, where Messi's control and influence on the game were overwhelming.

Iwobi also mentioned facing Messi at the international level during Nigeria's 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the 2018 World Cup, where Messi opened the scoring.