Lionel Messi is the most difficult opponent I've come up against, says Omeruo

Nigerian defender Kenneth Omeruo has pinpointed Lionel Messi, the Argentine football icon, as the most formidable striker he encountered during his tenure with the Super Eagles, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

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Omeruo made this revelation while appearing as a pundit on Sporty TV's coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he fielded a series of rapid-fire questions about his playing career, including the toughest opponent he had faced.

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Without hesitation, the 32-year-old centre-back identified Lionel Messi as the most difficult opponent he had come up against, a player he had the misfortune of facing twice on the biggest stage of international football.

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These encounters took place at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, where Messi scored against Nigeria on both occasions and played a pivotal role in Argentina's victories over the Super Eagles.

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Messi's impressive record against Nigeria includes netting twice in Argentina's 3-2 group-stage win over Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and scoring again four years later in Russia.

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In their 2018 meeting, Omeruo attempted a desperate last-ditch challenge to prevent Messi from opening the scoring, but the Argentine forward finished clinically to put Argentina ahead in a game they eventually won 2-1.

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The result ended Nigeria's hopes of reaching the knockout stages, with Argentina progressing instead, and marked a significant moment in Omeruo's World Cup experience.

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Despite identifying Messi as the toughest striker he faced, Omeruo also weighed in on the long-running debate over football's greatest player, describing Messi as a legend of the game.

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However, Omeruo picked Cristiano Ronaldo as his Greatest of All Time, adding his voice to the ongoing discussion about the sport's all-time greats.

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Omeruo's comments come days after he reflected on his first World Cup experience with Nigeria, describing the 2014 tournament in Brazil as one of the most memorable moments of his career.

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Speaking on Sporty TV's World Cup coverage, the defender recalled being overwhelmed by the atmosphere before Nigeria's opening match against Iran, saying the crowd was "something amazing" and unlike anything he had seen before.

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Omeruo also spoke about the privilege of sharing the dressing room with some of Nigeria's greatest players, including Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, John Mikel Obi, and Osaze Odemwingie.

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Omeruo was one of Nigeria's standout performers at the 2014 World Cup, starting all four matches as the Super Eagles reached the round of 16 before losing 2-0 to France.

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The defender went on to represent Nigeria at another World Cup in Russia in 2018, where he once again came up against Messi and Argentina, further solidifying his impression of the Argentine forward as a formidable opponent.