Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong has shared what it feels like going up against Cristiano Ronaldo again, this time on Saudi soil, Footynaija.com reports.
The Nigerian centre-back led Al Kholood when they faced Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League earlier this month. His side fought hard but eventually lost 2-0 to the team packed with stars.
For Ekong, the game was another chance to test himself against one of the best players the sport has ever seen. Backed by new American owners, Al Kholood continues to climb in profile, and Ekong’s leadership is central to that rise.
Owner Ben Harburg recently said having the Nigerian defender on board was “a dream come true”, praising not only his impact on the pitch but also his character off it.
“Playing against Ronaldo’s Al Nassr was something the team and I personally embraced by putting on a good performance and going toe-to-toe with one of the league’s giants,” Troost-Ekong said in a recent interview.
The defender has had battles with Ronaldo before in Europe, and he admitted this latest meeting brought back memories.
“Having met Ronaldo on the pitch previously, both in Italy and England, it was an honorable challenge to go head-to-head with one of the all-time greats of the game.” he explained.
“Having managed to win against him in both the Serie A and the Premier League, the game and how it was unfolding gave hope of a similar ending.”
The 32-year-old also spoke about why he embraced the move to Saudi Arabia in the first place.
“When I first came to Saudi Arabia, I wanted to be part of this grand footballing project, and one of the biggest attractions was the opportunity to play, not only with top-level footballers on a daily basis, but also against some of the very best this generation has produced,” he said.
And for him, those challenges go beyond Ronaldo.
“Defending against new players like Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman, and the rest of Al Nassr’s talented team, always fills me with a sense of pride,” he confessed.
