Nigeria defender Ola Aina names Ronaldo as toughest opponent he has faced

Nigeria international and Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo as the most challenging opponent he has faced in his career, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Aina made the admission during a rapid-fire question session with teammates Nikola Milenkovic and Dan Ndoye in an interview with Hayters TV on Tuesday. Reflecting on the players he has faced, the 29-year-old conceded the choice was difficult before settling on the Portuguese superstar.

“That is tough. Over my whole career? I would go for Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said.

He first went up against Ronaldo in December 2018 while playing for Torino in Serie A against Juventus.

Aina also named former Chelsea forward Eden Hazard as the best player he has shared a dressing room with. Having risen through Chelsea’s academy, Aina was part of the squad that won the Premier League in the 2016/17 season.

“Eden Hazard. I brag about that one.” He added jokingly that despite playing alongside the Belgian, he never secured his contact details.

“I do not have Eden’s number, you know. I have yours, best player in Serbia.”

Aina made his senior debut for Chelsea in August 2016 during a 3–2 EFL Cup win over Bristol Rovers and went on to make three first-team appearances, including a 3–0 league victory over Leicester City.

Seeking regular playing time, he joined Torino permanently in 2019, establishing himself in Serie A before returning to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest following a loan spell at Fulham.

Highlighting his standout moment at Forest, Aina pointed to his long-range strike against West Ham.

“My 30-yard screamer into the top corner against West Ham. I love it. It was a good one. Personally, I watch it back a lot. Yes, all the time,” he said.

On the toughest team he has faced, Aina singled out Inter Milan, while he credited David Beckham as the player who first inspired his love for football.