Former Nigerian captain and legendary playmaker Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has offered a nuanced perspective on the persistent comparisons between himself and Brazilian icon Ronaldinho. During an insightful sit-down with Clutch 9 on Monday, the Olympic gold medalist addressed recent remarks from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who previously shared a dressing room with both maestros at Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta had sparked a renewed debate by admitting that choosing between the two in terms of pure technical ability remains an impossible task. In response, Okocha lauded the World Cup winner as the most naturally gifted teammate he encountered throughout his illustrious career across Europe’s top leagues.
Okocha, who famously mentored a young Ronaldinho during their four-year overlap in Paris, emphasized that their shared footballing philosophy—rooted in the improvisational freedom of street football—allowed them to develop an almost telepathic connection on the pitch. While he maintains a fierce level of self-assurance in his own creative repertoire, the former Bolton Wanderers talisman acknowledged that the Brazilian ultimately achieved a higher peak on the global stage.
He noted that Ronaldinho’s arrival at PSG brought an unprecedented flair to the French league, further elevating a team that already featured prominent stars like Nicolas Anelka and Mauricio Pochettino.
“I can’t say that anybody is better than me since I’ve accepted the title of chief flair officer. He [Ronaldinho] was a genius when it comes to football. Straight away we saw his talent. He brought something different, and in a way we clicked, because our foundation was the same. We learnt how to play on the street; we were playing because we loved the game, and with smiles on our faces. It’s difficult to compare both of us because we had a good career, even though he took it higher,” Okocha stated during the interview.
