Super Eagles forward, Odion Jude Ighalo has expressed his extreme respect for two of the greatest footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine, Lionel Messi.

Ighalo spoke ahead of the Ballon d’Or award to be handed out later today, and with Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to win the award after a stellar year ahead of rival Lionel Messi.

Eagles and Changchun Yatai of China striker, Odion Ighalo has backed the Portuguese to bag the award, adding that he is a hard worker as well as very talented.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Brila.net’s Babafemi Raji, Ighalo eulogised both Ronaldo and Messi as great guys but tipped the Portuguese Ronaldo to pick up the award.

“Apart from their talent, You could see how hardworking they are, and it has helped them over a decade now,” Ighalo told brila.

“It is not enough to be talented”, but with hard work, you can get to places”.

Odion, however, had praise for the two best players in the world while adding that other players in the world would soon take over from the duo who have dominated for quite a while.

“Ronaldo Delima, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane all had their time, but they have gone now”, In a couple of years, Ronaldo who is 32, going to 33, and Messi, 30, going to 31 will have their momentum drop naturally” Ighalo explained.

Odion is currently on holidays after the last Chinese Super Lig season, where he bagged 15 goals for his club, Changchun Yatai.