'I don't want to get him mad'- Super Eagles captain Troost-Ekong plays it safe on Ronaldo-Messi debate

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has tactfully sidestepped the age-old debate of who the better footballer is between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, citing a unique reason for his reluctance.

The Nigerian international, who has faced both legends on the pitch, admitted he was wary of upsetting Ronaldo, whom he might encounter later this season in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, Ekong joked about avoiding controversy, saying, "This is difficult to say. I know I will probably play against Ronaldo later this season. I don't want to get him mad."

Despite his refusal to pick a side, Ekong did not hold back in his admiration for Messi, describing him as an 'unplayable' talent.

Recalling a defining moment from his career, Troost-Ekong reflected on facing Lionel Messi during the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia. Messi’s stunning opening goal helped Argentina secure a 2-1 victory in the final group-stage match, a result that propelled them to the knockout stages while eliminating Nigeria from the tournament.

Expressing his admiration for the Argentine superstar, Troost-Ekong marveled at Messi's extraordinary skill and game-changing brilliance.

"When he scored the opening goal against us it was like slow motion, you can't really do anything you just have to watch him.

"I was close to cheering him because he was fantastic. He is a different quality. You can see that he's reading the game, but when he comes alive there is not much you can do."

The Super Eagles defender also recounted his experiences defending against Ronaldo, first during his stint in Italy when the Portuguese star was spearheading Juventus' attack, and later in England during Ronaldo’s second spell with Manchester United.

"I had the pleasure of playing against him in Italy. When he was playing for Juventus and I was playing for Udinese, he was an out-to-out number nine at that point.

"Of course, I grew up watching him as a winger. In Italy, he was very sharp, a great finisher, you just really can't take your eye off him if you're a defender," he noted.

He further praised Ronaldo’s knack for exploiting minimal space even in tight defensive setups.

"Even when we play three at the back and some moments when we get pinned down to five, he only needs about half a meter and he will try and get a shot off. That was really impressive," he stated.

"We also played against him with Watford and managed to beat them at home 4-1. It was a great experience."

Troost-Ekong also shared tactical insights into dealing with Ronaldo, acknowledging that physicality might be one of the few ways to unsettle him.

"No, I don't think he's very much fazed by anyone else. I wouldn't try to have a conversation with him. I think I will just try to be all over him irrationally. I think he doesn't really enjoy that," he revealed.  
"From the time we played against him, I think if you just get a bit physical with him and you're not under his presence, then I think that's something that can throw him off his game.

"But I don't know if there's a correct answer. You just try different things every time."

Troost-Ekong has been a key figure for the Nigerian national team since his debut in 2015 during an AFCON qualifier against Chad.

Over the years, he has earned 76 caps for the Super Eagles, contributing seven goals from his defensive role.

Adeyemi Adewale

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