Alex Iwobi drops another verdict in Ronaldo vs Messi GOAT debate – “The aura is crazy”

Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has weighed in on football's never-ending greatest-ever debate, picking his favourite between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after experiencing both legends firsthand, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 30-year-old shared his thoughts during an appearance on Adebayo Akinfenwa's Beast Mode On podcast, where he reflected on facing the two global icons.

Although Iwobi admitted the debate remains a difficult one, he revealed that Messi's influence on the pitch left a lasting impression on him.

“That's a tough one. It's tough for me. I always say, Messi.”

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Why Iwobi picked Messi over Ronaldo

Iwobi explained that his experiences against the two superstars came at different stages of their careers, making direct comparisons difficult.

According to the Nigerian centurion, the version of Ronaldo he faced had already evolved into a ruthless goalscorer focused on efficiency inside the penalty area, rather than the trickster that he was when he broke out in the early 2000's.

“It's also quite different because when I played against Ronaldo, don't get me wrong, the aura is crazy, but it was a different stage of his career, it was just about efficiency, getting into the box and scoring.”

However, it was his first UEFA Champions League start at Camp Nou in March 2016 against Barcelona that convinced him Messi possessed something unique.

Iwobi recalled lining up against a star-studded Barcelona side featuring Neymar, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Dani Alves, yet the home supporters reserved their loudest chants for the Argentine superstar.

“When I played against Messi at the Nou Camp, they had Neymar, Suarez, Iniesta, Xavi, and Dani Alves. There's just names on names on names, and that was on my first Champions League start.

“You head out of the tunnel and the fans are chanting Messi's name. Meanwhile, there are other superstars.”

Messi, Suarez and Neymar all ended up on the scoresheet in that game, while Mohamed Elneny's curler was the only consolation for then-Arsene Wenger's side.

The aura is crazy

Iwobi admitted he initially struggled to understand how someone of Messi's stature could command such presence on the pitch.

The former Arsenal Hale End academy graduate described the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner as having an almost invisible “force field” that prevented defenders from getting close.

“Neymar is small (height) and Messi is extra small, and I thought, no, there's no way someone like this has this much presence.

“Every time he had the ball, it was like he had a radius around him that no one could come close to.”

Determined to test himself against the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Iwobi attempted to press Messi but quickly learned why so many defenders had failed before him.

“Then a ball went to Messi. I tried to press him because I was tired of the force field he had around him, so I tried to mark him. He cut in and went past me, and I slipped.

“It comes out on every Messi compilation and I go, ‘Oh God', that's me again.”

Iwobi's comments join a series of tributes from current and former footballers who have described the unique challenge of trying to stop Messi at the peak of his powers, even while acknowledging Ronaldo's extraordinary achievements.