Nigeria’s fame in the global soccer has once again shone as the World football governing body FIFA has announced that former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha holds the record for the most successful dribbles in a single FIFA World Cup match.
FIFA in a statement said that Okocha completed 15 successful dribbles against Italy during Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, which was Nigeria’s first appearance in the mundial.
FIFA acknowledged that the feat by Okocha was achieved against one of the most celebrated defensive units of that era, including Italian legends Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, and Demetrio Albertini.
The record underlines Okocha’s enduring status as one of the most skilful footballers the beautiful game has ever produced.
According to FIFA, the attainment remains unequalled in World Cup history.
Occupying the second place is Brazil’s Jairzinho who made 13 dribbles against Uruguay in 1970, a mark equaled by England’s Paul Gascoigne against Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup.
The soccer governing body noted that only nine players have recorded 12 successful dribbles in a single match to complete the all-time list, including Portugal’s Eusebio against Hungary in 1966, West Germany’s Reinhard Libuda against Bulgaria in 1970, the Netherlands’ Johan Cruyff against Sweden in 1974, Italy’s Sandro Mazzola against Poland in 1974, Argentina’s Diego Maradona against England in 1986, and Germany’s Jamal Musiala against Costa Rica in 2022.
