Okocha rates self ahead Neymar, Messi, others, says I’m the best dribbler
Former Super Eagles captain and midfielder, Austin Okocha, says he is the best dribbler to have played the game of football.
In a video posted on X, the Nigeria legend was asked to pick a better dribbler than him, past and present footballers, with several names reeled out to him.
Okocha surprisingly snubbed the list that comprises compatriots Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, among other world-skilful players like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Foden, Florian Wirtz, Jadon Sancho, Jamal Musiala, Bernardo Silva, and Kilian Mbappe, insisting he is one of the best dribblers in the game.
Asked why he rejected all the players mentioned, Okocha said, “Of course, I was the best dribbler; that was my strength.”
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest football players, Okocha played his club football in the Bundesliga, Turkish Super Lig, French Ligue 1, English Premier League, EFL Championship, and Qatar Stars League before hanging his boots.
During his career, the prodigiously talented Okocha mesmerised opponents with his slick skills and breathtaking dribbles, his trademarks.
As an Eintracht Frankfurt player, Okocha scored one of the best goals in the Bundesliga’s history against the then world’s best goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, in goal for Karlsruher.
Okocha danced around five players—some of them more than once—before beating Kahn in a 3-1 win.
In an interview with a German publication, Kicker, in 2021, the Nigerian admitted that the goal changed his career and made him famous.
“That goal changed my life and made me famous. Outside of Germany too, because it caused a lot of publicity. To be honest, I didn’t plan on holding the ball that long! But whenever I looked up to shoot, I saw someone in front of me. So I kept dribbling until I saw a gap. It took longer than planned, but in the end, I was overjoyed when the ball was in the net. That was the best goal of my career.”
Okocha scored 101 goals and contributed 52 assists in 492 career games at club level and is now an ambassador as part of the official Bundesliga Legends network.
Despite his huge talents and a near-20-year career, Okocha only won the Atatürk Cup with Fenerbahce as well as the Trophée des Champions and UEFA Intertoto Cup with Paris Saint-Germain.
He won the BBC African Footballer of the Year twice and is largely regarded as the uncrowned African Player of the Year.
Source – punch
