Ronaldinho Gaucho, former Brazil and Barcelona attacking midfielder has revealed two attackers who he admired most as a footballer.
The player said two former national team captains were his most admired attackers. He named them as former Nigerian and Colombian skippers, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Carlos Valderrama.
The Brazilian joined other former football stars in Bahrain for the FIFA congress. He used his social media handles to share photos of his engagement where he met Okocha, Valderrama, former Brazilian skipper, Cafu and other stars.
The Only 10 shirt I’ve always admired. Jay-Jay Okocha (@iamokocha) and Carlos Valderrama (@PibeValderramaP).
‘‘The Only 10 shirt I’ve always admired. Jay-Jay Okocha (
iamokocha) and Carlos Valderrama (
PibeValderramaP),’‘ his tweet read.
Ronaldinho is a successful player both at club and country levels. He won every trophy there was to pick in the Spanish top flight. He won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and also went ahead to help them win the FIFA club championship.
He also won the World Cup with the national team and picked a series on individual accolades including the FIFA World Best player.
About Austin Jay-Jay Okocha
43-year-old Okocha was born in Nigeria’s southern Enugu State, he is reputed as one of the country and the continent’s most skillful players during the time he was active.
Young Okocha started his playing career with the Enugu Rangers, between 1990 and 2008 when he hanged his boot, the player had stints with teams in Germany, Turkey, France, England and Qatar. His last club side was Hull City in the Premier League.
He is a dual Nigerian-Turkish citizen, having acquired Turkish citizenship as “Muhammet Yavuz” while playing for Süper Lig team Fenerbahçe. He played 75 games for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2006 and scored 14 goals within the period. He was part of the victorious Nigeria team that won the 19th edition of the AFCON hosted by Tunisia.
About Colombian great Carlos Valderrama
Carlos Valderrama is a former Colombia skipper who graced the country’s number 10 shirt till he retired in 2004. Known as El Pibe ‘The Kid’ his distinctive hairstyle is one physical attribute that makes him stand out.
He won the South American Footballer of the Year award in 1987 and 1993, and in 1999, he was also named one of the top 100 players of the 20th century by World Soccer. In 2004, he was included in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 “greatest living footballers” chosen by Pelé to celebrate the 100th anniversary of FIFA.
Valderrama was a member of the Colombia national football team from 1985 until 1998. He represented Colombia in 111 full internationals and scored 11 times, making him the most capped player in the country’s history.
He played a major role during the golden era of Colombian football in the 1990s, representing his national side in three FIFA World Cups and five Copa América tournaments.