OKOCHA: COMPARING ME TO RONALDINHO IS NOT EASY

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has identified Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho as the most skilful player he ever shared the pitch with.

Speaking in an interview, Okocha reacted to remarks by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who played alongside both stars at Paris Saint-Germain and admitted he could not decide who was more skilful.

Okocha, reflecting on his own career, emphasized that self-belief was central to his game, saying he never considered himself inferior to any opponent.

“I can’t say that anybody is better than me since I’ve accepted the title of chief flair officer,” Okocha said. “He [Ronaldinho] was a genius on the ball. From the moment we met, you could see his talent. He brought something different, and in a way we clicked because our foundation was the same. We learnt to play on the streets, we played for love of the game, with smiles on our faces. It’s difficult to compare us because we both had great careers, even though he took it a step higher.”

Asked directly to name the most skillful player he played alongside, Okocha did not hesitate. “Without any doubt, Ronaldinho,” he said.

He explained that the Brazilian’s instinctive unpredictability mirrored his own style. “I could see a bit of me in him; that unpredictability. You never knew what to expect when he had the ball, and that was my strength too. Playing together, even without communicating, we knew what to do and how to call for the ball. That natural instinct is something you can’t teach, and that’s what I saw in him.”

The 52-year-old also spoke about confidence and fearlessness on the pitch, insisting he never felt intimidated by any opponent. “It might sound arrogant, but nobody,” he said. “My strength is when I have the ball—I know I decide what happens, not the opponent. You can be as tough as you like, but you can’t control what I do with the ball. You’re just lucky if you guess right. That gave me the freedom to try things, play my way, but always for the team.”

Okocha also stressed the importance of respecting defenders’ strengths while relying on his attacking skills: “I never worry about who I’m facing next. You respect their strength, but my strength is attacking. If I can’t challenge them defensively, I don’t expect them to challenge me offensively.”

Reflecting on his career in Europe, Okocha singled out the English Premier League as the most physically demanding competition he experienced.