Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has revealed that if he could choose one player to join Nigeria’s squad, it would be none other than Lionel Messi – www.isagoal.com reports.
In a conversation with ESPN, the Nigerian international explained that while he believes Nigeria already has remarkable players, Messi would be his ultimate addition.
“I’d love to have Lionel Messi in my team. I don’t know if he has a Nigerian grandfather or father somewhere,” he joked during the interview.
The former PAOK centre-back reflected on Nigeria’s rich pool of talent, noting he wouldn’t trade any of his teammates for anyone else in the world.
“Our current group is full of gifted footballers. Between them and our ex-internationals, there’s something truly special,” he said.
Troost-Ekong, 31, also pointed to some of the most difficult strikers he’s faced in his career, naming Duván Zapata as a standout.
“There was one season in Italy when Zapata just had me constantly alert. He made life tough,” he said.
He listed other world-class forwards he has defended against, including Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
“I’ve come up against nearly all of today’s top strikers – Mbappé and Haaland included,” he stated.
Cristiano Ronaldo, he said, remains one of the most clinical players he’s ever faced, especially for his sharp finishing.
“I think we’ve played five times, and in three of those matches, Ronaldo scored. He’s always dangerous,” he noted.
Troost-Ekong called leading the Super Eagles the proudest role of his career and reaffirmed his focus on AFCON glory and qualifying for the next World Cup.
This article was updated 5 days ago