Nigeria has had its fair share of football talent over the years; from Rashid Yekini to Austin Okocha to Kanu Nwankwo to John Mikel Obi.
Some others have been tipped to have bigger careers than the aforementioned with the tag; Nigerian Messi attached but for some reason they have failed live up to their potentials or the career of Barcelona's number ten.
Here are four footballers to have been tagged the Nigerian Messi;
1. Moses Simon
This is probably the only player on this list to have had a good career so far. Simon has bags of tricks and is fleet footed though his crossing and end product could be frustrating.
Plays for Gent in Belgium whom he has represented in the Europa League and Champions League. The 21-year-old has also played eleven times for Nigeria scoring three goals.
Moses Simon in action for the Super Eagles
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2. Ogo Obi
A few years ago, left footed Obi was tipped as the ‘Nigerian Messi’ after going on trial to Manchester United. He was released by Watford this summer and clearly isn’t living up to expectations just yet.
Ogo Obi was released by Watford this summer
3. Michael Babatunde
Like Obi, Babatunde was compared to Messi because he was left footed and had a few tricks up his sleeve. The attacker plays in the Qatari second division and has only appeared four times for Nigeria.
His hand was broken by an Ogenyi Onazi shot at the 2014 World Cup.
Babatunde at the 2014 World Cup
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4. Stanley Okoro
Now what really happened here? Okoro was supposed to be the next big thing in the country but Nigerians quickly realized he was a fraud. Nigerians even went as far as to call him 'little Messi'.
Okoro appeared with the under-17 team at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup where Nigeria lost 1 - 0 to Switzerland in the final. He currently plays for Abia Warriors where he is not even a top player.
What happened to Stanley Okoro?
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