Burna Boy has set the internet buzzing with his list of football’s greatest, and it doesn’t include Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Grammy-winning Afrobeats star revealed his top three on GOAT Talk, a YouTube show by Complex where celebrities share their ultimate picks. Without hesitation, he named Nigerian legend Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, Brazilian icon Ronaldinho, and Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.
His choices instantly sparked conversation. After all, Messi and Ronaldo have ruled football for nearly two decades, collecting 13 Ballon d’Or awards between them. Yet Burna Boy stuck by his picks, showing love to players who, in his words, shaped the game in their own way.
The episode also featured tennis legend Roger Federer, who playfully quizzed Burna about Nigeria’s national team nickname.
“The Super Eagles,” Burna answered with pride.
“Can they fly?” Federer teased.
“They can’t fly, but they can win… and lose too,” Burna laughed.
Federer later gave his own list, naming Zidane, Henry, Maradona, Messi, and Ronaldo as his football GOATs.
For Nigerian fans, Burna Boy’s nod to Okocha felt natural—he remains one of the most gifted dribblers the game has ever seen. Ronaldinho, too, is remembered as a magician who made football look like art. And Osimhen’s inclusion highlights his meteoric rise: at just 26, he’s already African Player of the Year, a Ballon d’Or nominee, and the face of Nigeria’s World Cup hopes while leading the line at Galatasaray.
For Burna Boy, the GOAT debate isn’t about stats—it’s about magic, influence, and pride.
