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Nearly three decades after he tormented Spain on football’s biggest stage, Nigerian legend Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha has received a special retroactive “Superior Player of the Match” award for his unforgettable performance in the 1998 World Cup.
The 52-year-old former Super Eagles playmaker unveiled the silver trophy in a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday.
“Hello, this is JJ Okocha. I’m about to unveil this special award being given to me by FIFA,” he said in the clip.
The prize recognises his display in Nigeria’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Spain on June 13, 1998 – a match many fans still regard as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.
The award stems from a joint initiative by Michelob ULTRA and football content platform Copa90, which aims to honour standout performances from World Cups played before the official Player of the Match award was introduced in 2002.
Organisers said they scoured archival footage to identify deserving players across hundreds of matches.
“Special thank you to Michelob ULTRA and Copa90 for this amazing recognition. I’m so honoured to receive it,” Okocha added.
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On that June evening at the Stade de la Beaujoie in Nantes, France, Okocha produced a midfield masterclass that left Spain’s vaunted defence – anchored by Fernando Hierro and Raul – chasing shadows.
Though he did not get on the scoresheet, his dazzling dribbling, visionary passing and creative spark drove Nigeria back from a deficit to seal a famous 3-2 triumph.
Mutiu Adepoju, an own goal and a thunderous strike from Sunday Oliseh completed the comeback.
The Super Eagles went on to top their group before falling to Denmark in the Round of 16.
The honour arrives as the 2026 World Cup – co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – gets underway, but without Nigeria, who failed to qualify for this year’s tournament.
