By Olaitan Ibrahim
Nigerian football legend Jay Jay Okocha has joined the ongoing debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
For nearly two decades, the duo has dominated discussions about football greatness, with their rivalry highlighted by a record thirteen Ballon d’Or awards—Messi with eight and Ronaldo with five.
In a recent interview, Okocha noted that both players are good but chose Messi as the best.
He said, “They are both GOATs but my personal GOAT is Messi because he looks more natural to me.”
Okocha’s own illustrious career spanned from 1990 to 2012, during which he became renowned for his dazzling skills. His time in England, particularly with Bolton Wanderers, earned him the nickname ‘so good they named him twice.’ His endorsement of Messi adds a personal touch to the long-standing debate that also includes opinions from other football greats like Paul Scholes.
Scholes, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United from 2003 to 2009, has also weighed in, suggesting that Messi still holds the edge over Ronaldo.