I played with no shoes- Nigeria's hero Yakubu Aiyegbeni shares his grass to grace story

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni, affectionately known as "The Yak," has opened up about his humble beginnings in Nigeria, reflecting on a childhood spent playing football barefoot on the streets and the determination that helped him to stardom in Europe's top leagues.

Born on November 22, 1982, in Benin City, Edo State, Yakubu's early life was marked by modest circumstances.

He said, "Growing up where you play in the streets with no football shoes, I was lucky enough to buy my own shoes now, it's quite tough for us who grow up in Africa," Yakubu shared in an interview with Sky Sports.

His passion for the game clashed with family expectations, as his father initially pushed him toward education over sports.

"I remembered when my daddy said I need to go to school and I was football is my passion, initially he didn't buy into the idea in the first place," he recounted.

Despite these challenges, Yakubu's talent shone through. He began his professional career with Julius Berger FC (now Bridge FC) in the Nigerian Premier League in 1997, before moving to Israel's Maccabi Haifa in 1998, where he gained prominence, including in the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League.

His breakthrough in Europe came with a loan to Portsmouth in 2003, helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League.

Yakubu went on to play for several English clubs, including Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City, and Blackburn Rovers, amassing 96 goals in 252 Premier League appearances.

On the international stage, Yakubu represented Nigeria's Super Eagles from 2000 to 2012, earning 58 caps and scoring 21 goals.

He debuted at age 17 in a 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win against Eritrea and featured in four AFCON tournaments, the 2000 Summer Olympics, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he started all three group games and scored against South Korea.