After 28 Years, FIFA Finally Recognizes Jay-Jay Okocha with Retroactive World Cup Award

Nigerian football legend Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha has finally received official recognition from FIFA for his iconic performance in Nigeria’s famous 3-2 victory over Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, a full 28 years after the match was played.

The 52-year-old former Super Eagles captain was presented with a special retroactive “Superior Player of the Match” award just before the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In a video shared on his Instagram page, Okocha unveiled the silver trophy from a custom case. “Hello, this is JJ Okocha. I’m about to unveil this special award being given to me by FIFA,” he said in the clip. “It was given to me for winning the Superior Man of the Match in a World Cup game, Nigeria versus Spain, 1998.”

The award was created by football platform Copa90 and beer brand Michelob ULTRA as a collaborative initiative to honour standout individual performances from World Cup matches played before the official Man of the Match award was introduced in 2002. Organizers combed through archival footage to recognise deserving players across hundreds of matches.

The famous match took place on June 13, 1998, at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France, during the group stage of the tournament. Nigeria came from behind twice to secure a historic upset over the Spanish side, which featured stars like Fernando Hierro and Raúl. Goals from Mutiu Adepoju, an own goal, and a long-range strike from Sunday Oliseh sealed the victory.

Although Okocha did not score in that match, his dazzling dribbling, creativity, and control in midfield were widely regarded as the engine behind one of the biggest upsets in African football history. “Special thank you to Michelob ULTRA and Copa90 for this amazing recognition. I’m so honoured to receive it,” Okocha added.

The recognition comes alongside confirmation from FIFA that Okocha still holds the all-time record for the most successful dribbles in a single World Cup match. He completed 15 dribbles during Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash against Italy at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, a feat that has remained unmatched for over three decades.

Okocha represented Nigeria at three World Cup tournaments in 1994, 1998, and 2002, earning 73 caps and scoring 14 goals for his country between 1993 and 2006. He was a key member of the golden generation that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the Olympic football gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The timing of the award carries added significance as the 2026 World Cup kicks off, though Nigeria failed to qualify for this edition. The honour further cements Okocha’s enduring legacy as one of the most gifted and entertaining footballers in African history.