Okocha Picks Messi Over Ronaldo, Gives His Reaso

Former Nigerian football star Jay-Jay Okocha has picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo while discussing the two football legends on The Big One Podcast.

Okocha acknowledged Ronaldo’s exceptional goalscoring ability but said he views the Portuguese star primarily as a goal scorer, likening him to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

“Ronaldo is a special player. But he’s for me a goal scorer. He can score 10 million goals. He is a goal scorer. It’s like Haaland. Haaland is a goal scorer,” Okocha said.

However, when it came to Messi, the former Super Eagles captain was unequivocal, describing the Argentine as a player operating on a completely different level.

“But Messi, Messi, Messi is on another planet,” he said.

Okocha went on to praise Messi’s natural talent and deep connection with the game, calling him a genius who was seemingly born to play football.

“Messi was born to play football, you know. Messi, I think Messi will get ill if he doesn’t play football. You know, he’s a genius,” he added.

For Okocha, while Ronaldo’s goalscoring record makes him a special player, Messi’s creativity, genius and natural ability place him in a league of his own.