By Ghazali Ibrahim
Grammy-winning Nigerian music star Burna Boy has named former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha as the greatest footballer of all time, dismissing the long-running debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Afrobeats superstar made the declaration during a recent interview with ESPN, where he was asked to name his football GOAT.
Rather than choosing either of the two modern-day icons, Burna Boy said his admiration lies with the Nigerian legend.
“I will say Jay Jay Okocha. It is between him and Pele. I am not doing that Ronaldo or Messi stuff,” Burna Boy said during the interview.
His comments have reignited discussions among football fans, particularly in Nigeria, where Okocha remains one of the country’s most celebrated sporting icons.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most gifted footballers, Okocha dazzled fans with his creativity, dribbling ability and flair during an illustrious career that saw him represent clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Fenerbahçe and Bolton Wanderers, while captaining the Super Eagles to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations title and helping Nigeria win Olympic gold in 1996.
Beyond naming his all-time favourite player, Burna Boy also revealed that England captain Harry Kane is his favourite striker, described Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal as the world’s best young player, and picked Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as his favourite current player at the Premier League club.
Burna Boy’s verdict is likely to fuel fresh debate over football’s greatest-ever player, a conversation that has long been dominated by Messi and Ronaldo but continues to feature legends such as Pelé, Diego Maradona and, for many Nigerians, Jay Jay Okocha.
