Nigeria international Calvin Bassey has opened up on the magical Lionel Messi moment that inspired him to choose to play for the Super Eagles ahead of the Three Lions of England, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“When Nigeria played Argentina, they lost 2-1, but it was a good game,” Bassey told Sky Sports.
“Messi, of course—Messi is Messi, in it—he scored that outrageous goal. I think it was knee, left foot, then right foot. It was top.
“But that was more of a motivation to me to want to play for Nigeria and also play on the big stage.”
The Fulham defender was born in Italy to Nigerian parents but moved to England as a child and grew up in Newham.
Bassey was eligible to play for any of the two countries, including Kenya, but in 2021 he committed his international future to the three-time African champions when he accepted a call-up for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and debuted for the country in a 0-0 draw against arch-rival Ghana.
However, the 24-year-old said he made up his mind during Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup fixture against Argentina.
During this period, Bassey, a then youngster with Leicester City underage, watched Nigeria’s last group game against the South Americans and was blown away by Messi’s magic.
The African giants needed a draw to progress to the knockout round, but Argentina, inspired by the Barcelona legend, secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory instead, with Messi scoring the opener with an excellent strike.
The record Ballon d’Or winner received a long ball over the top with a classic first touch on his knee and touched it past his marker with his left foot before smashing a right-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.According to Bassey, though Nigeria lost to Argentina, the team won his heart due to their resilience, and it was at that moment that he decided to play for the Eagles because of the way they went down.
Since making his debut for Nigeria in 2022, the 24-year-old has become a key member of the Eagles squad that reached the final of the AFCON earlier this year, winning a silver medal. He has made 28 appearances for the 2013 AFCON winners.