Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand star has heaped praise on Nigerian football legend Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, hailing him as one of the most skillful players in history.
Ferdinand, renowned for his defensive prowess, faced Okocha several times in the Premier League and on the international stage. Okocha’s incredible dribbling and passing abilities earned him a reputation as one of the most skillful players ever.
In an interview with Mail Sport, Ferdinand was asked to create his “perfect footballer.”
He named Diego Maradona as the best left-footed player, Cristiano Ronaldo as the best with the right foot, Xavi for football IQ, Adebayo Akinfenwa for strength, and Kylian Mbappé for speed.
Initially, Ferdinand chose Brazil’s Neymar for skills but then switched to Okocha, declaring:
“We used to watch Jay Jay Okocha’s videos, and everyone wanted to play like him.
“It was great seeing him in the Premier League after making his name with Eintracht Frankfurt and PSG.
“Nigerian players of that era—Okocha, Oliseh, Kanu—had a huge influence on black players worldwide.”
