Not many players are tagged with the label of being the hardest player to play against. Certainly not by someone who has faced world-class talents time and again, including the likes of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But for an Al Hilal player, Lionel Messi is someone who’s given him the most nightmares. The Moroccan international recounts these instances, as he gets candid in a recent interview.

The former Sevilla player also spoke about his friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo when the two played in Spain. The 32-year-old shared a captivating encounter with Ronaldo’s son as he reminisced about his La Liga days.

World No.13 picks Lionel Messi as most feared

Yassine Bounou, who was ranked 13th in the Ballon d’Or 2023, got candid in a recent interview. He shared his thoughts on the beautiful game and its intricacies but what stuck with the fans was his appreciation for Lionel Messi. The former Sevilla star compared the stars he’s faced and how Lionel Messi has always stuck out.

The Al Hilal player sharing his experience said, “Suarez was amazing, Benzema is good and Cristiano is good. And Messi did a lot against me. Messi, the hardest player I’ve ever faced, suddenly appeared in the area and put the ball into my net.”

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Al Hilal is currently holding the top position in the Saudi League. Bounou’s signing from Sevilla this summer has solidified Jorge Jesus’s team’s backline, keeping the team’s defenses strong. However, it hasn’t been all sunshine for the Riyadh-based club as their talisman, Neymar, got injured early in the season during the international break.

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Bounou, who recently joined the Saudi giants after spending 4 years in Spain, has had many face-offs against the Ballon d’Or winners. The keeper, additionally, talked about the moment he became friends with former Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bounou makes a connection through Ronaldo Jr.

Yassine Bounou recently shared the story of his unlikely friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo. According to Bounou, Ronaldo is not just a soccer icon but also one of his good friends. Their friendship began with a shirt exchange during a face-off between Sevilla and Real Madrid.

Bounou, acknowledging Ronaldo as a genuinely good individual, reminisced about a match at the Bernabeu where the Portuguese scored four goals against him. Despite the fierce competition, their friendship extended beyond the game. After the match, Ronaldo was accompanied by his son, who took pride in his father’s remarkable feat and said, “My father scored four goals against you.”

Fast forward to the present, Ronaldo’s son has grown up, and both families find themselves in Saudi Arabia. In a light-hearted moment, Ronaldo’s son playfully teased Bounou, suggesting a future challenge: “Bono… we will see when he scores some goals against you.” This friendship, born on the field, has evolved into a genuine bond that breaks the barriers of soccer.