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Messi and Ronaldo are the two greatest players to play the game but are not as skilful as Jay-Jay, according to a former England and Liverpool star.
Former England international John Barnes has praised the mercurial talents of ex-Super Eagles star Austin Jay-Jay Okocha.
Barnes praised Okocha’s for his skills, saying his the most skilful player he has ever seen play, even better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Okocha's long journey to the Premier League
Messi and Ronaldo are widely considered the greatest players of all time, but Barnes insists they are not as skilful as Okocha.
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Okocha was one of the naturally gifted players to play the game, having played for clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce and Paris Saint-Germain.
Okocha started his top-flight journey in Europe with Frankfurt, where he scored one of the greatest Bundesliga goals of all time against Oliver Kahn.
Following his time in Germany, Okocha moved to Fenerbahce before moving to PSG for a then-African record fee.
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Okocha spent four years in Paris before taking his talents to English shores, signing for Bolton Wanderers in 2002.
During his time at Reebok Stadium, The ex-Super Eagles captain entertained English fans with his incredible skill collection.
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Known for his magic on the ball, Okocha embarrassed his fellow players and entertained fans with flicks, dribbles and leg-overs.
Ronaldo and Messi's skills not on the same level as Okocha
Barnes, who had retired by the time Okocha arrived in England, witnessed the ex-PSG star do his thing in the Premier League.
And having watched him closely in England, the ex-Watford man believes as far as skills go, Okocha trumps Messi and Ronaldo, with only Ronaldinho on the same level as him.
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Barnes said this on SupeSport, where they were discussing the greatest African players to play in the Premier League.
"Jay-Jay Okocha, the most skilful player in the world. He does it better than anyone, Ronaldo, Messi,” Barnes said on SuperSport.
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“When you talk of two of the most naturally gifted skilful players, the most skilful player in the world, there are two, Ronaldinho and Jay-Jay Okocha, who is naturally the most skilful player because the things he does on the football field are what you do in the playground, what you do in training you aren’t supposed to do in matches,” Barnes added.
Okocha played in the Premier League between 2002 and 2006, achieving a cult hero status at Bolton Wanderers.
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