Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy has named former Super Eagles midfielder Austin Okocha as the greatest football player of all time.

Many expected the conversation to end with either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, the two names that have dominated football debates for more than a decade.

However, in an interview with ESPN, Burna Boy stated that Okocha remains his greatest football player of all time, despite the widespread acclaim enjoyed by Ronaldo and Messi.

“I will say Jay Jay Okocha. It is between him and Pele. I am not doing that Ronaldo or Messi stuff,” he said.

Known for his extraordinary dribbling, creativity, and flair, Okocha represented Nigeria 73 times, scoring 14 goals.

The former Bolton Wanderers, Fenerbahçe, and Paris Saint-Germain superstar is regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time and one of the most influential dribblers in world football history.

The Nigerian legend played in the Bundesliga, Süper Lig, Ligue 1, Premier League, EFL Championship, and Qatar Stars League before his retirement in 2008.

Interestingly, Burna Boy performed at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with his collaborative track “Dai Dai” featuring Shakira, breaking records as the highest-charting World Cup song on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 17.