Calvin Bassey, the Super Eagles and Fulham defender, recently shared how Lionel Messi’s iconic moments on the field inspired him to represent Nigeria over England and Italy. Bassey, who was born in Italy to Nigerian parents but grew up in England, had the unique option of representing any of the three nations on the international stage.
Bassey revealed that his decision to play for Nigeria took root while watching Messi score a stunning goal against Nigeria during the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. "When Nigeria played Argentina, they lost 2-1, but it was a good game. Messi—well, Messi is Messi—scored that outrageous goal,” Bassey said in an interview with Sky Sports, as reported by Afrik-Foot. “I think it was knee, foot, then right foot. It was top-tier. But that was my motivation to play for Nigeria and to perform on the big stage.”
Since his debut for the Super Eagles in 2022, the 24-year-old has earned 28 caps, becoming a key player for the team. Earlier this year, Bassey played a significant role in helping Nigeria reach the AFCON final, where the squad claimed the silver medal.
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