Former Everton defender Joseph Yobo considers Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba as the toughest strikers he came up against during his playing career.

On the international scene, the ex-Nigeria captain faced an Argentina side containing Messi three times and the South Americans were victorious on each occasion with the Barcelona captain running the show despite the Super Eagles players paying close attention to him.

Yobo also touched on Cristiano Ronaldo, saying that he found it easier preventing the former Manchester United star from wreaking havoc because he used to play mostly as a winger once upon a time.

"I would have said Robbie Keane the former Tottenham player, he was clever but it has to be Messi," Yobo told ESPN journalist Colin Udoh in a Facebook conversation.

"I am the kind of person that I like to see you because I can mark you and put you in my pocket. But sometimes because of the way these strikers move and their size they come from everywhere, sometimes they are missing in the game and the next thing they pop up and mess you around.

"Messi I would say because the few times we played against him he made the difference and I was unable to get hold of him.

"We already knew that he was going to be the problem, we knew that if we took him out we have a better chance.

"Ronaldo because of his physique and his size, he plays as a number 9, it was easier for me to mark him but when I played against him he was more of a wide player. "

When asked to name his toughest African opponent, Yobo did not think twice before choosing Didier Drogba and recollected that the Ivorian was the architect of Chelsea's win against Everton in the final of the 2009 FA Cup.

"For African striker I would say Didier Drogba, he had presence, he can head the ball and for some reason he ends up scoring important goals when it matters in my time with Everton.

"He cost me the chance of winning the FA Cup 2009, we were leading and the next thing he comes up on the big occasion. He's done my team some damage."

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : evertonfc.com