Joel Colwill, a 21-year-old Welsh midfielder, is about to take on some of the biggest names in football during Wales' upcoming Nations League matches. He will face Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Erling Haaland of Norway, two of the most dominant players in the sport today. Colwill, who recently made his debut for Wales in a friendly against Canada in September 2025, is excited but also humbled by the opportunity. He described facing Ronaldo, a player widely considered among the greatest of all time, as "pretty surreal." Ronaldo, 41, has joined Portugal's squad under new manager Jorge Jesus. Despite considering retirement after the World Cup, the Portuguese star has chosen to continue his international career. Meanwhile, Haaland, the Norwegian striker known for his incredible goal-scoring ability, is also expected to play in the Nations League matches. These encounters will provide a significant test for Colwill and the Welsh team. When asked who he thinks is the greatest player of all time, Colwill admitted he's still deciding between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He praised Ronaldo for being one of the best goalscorers in history but noted that Messi is more of a playmaker. Colwill believes both players have had moments where they were the best, and he admires their different skills and achievements. Growing up, Colwill looked up to Steven Gerrard, the former Liverpool and England midfielder. He studied Gerrard's performances and tried to model his own game after the Liverpool legend. Although Colwill hasn't yet reached the Premier League stage Gerrard once played in, he has already made his mark with Wales, earning two caps in 2025. Now, he aims to learn from experienced players like Harry Wilson and David Brooks, who currently play in the Premier League, as he continues to develop his career.