Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has stirred debate by naming Brazil’s Neymar and French playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa as his personal football “greatest of all time” (GOAT) picks excluding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from his top choices.
The Nigerian forward shared his picks on social media, highlighting the flair and creativity of his two favourites from world football history.
Boniface chose Neymar for his exceptional attacking skills and influence across top leagues in Europe and Brazil, while he praised Ben Arfa’s dribbling and technical brilliance during spells at clubs like Marseille, Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain.
The striker’s selection reflects a personal view of footballing greatness that favours skill and creativity attributes both Neymar and Ben Arfa are widely known for.
Editorial
Boniface’s unconventional GOAT list highlights how personal football legends can vary widely among players. While Messi and Ronaldo dominate many GOAT conversations thanks to their long-term success and record numbers, Boniface’s choices underline a preference for players known for individual flair and creativity. Neymar’s ability to create and score across top European leagues, combined with Ben Arfa’s dazzling dribbling at his peak, evidently made a strong impression on the Nigerian striker.
From a Nigerian perspective, seeing Boniface celebrate global talents also speaks to the varied influences on modern African forwards. Rather than traditional statistical benchmarks, his picks suggest admiration for style and joy in the game qualities that Nigerian fans often cherish. It adds a thoughtful footnote to football culture debates, showing how individual experiences shape views on greatness.
As Boniface continues his impressive season in Europe, his views on the sport’s greats remind fans that personal legacy and player influence are often as subjective as they are celebratory. Whether you agree with his list or not, his picks have certainly sparked conversation among supporters.
Did You Know?
- Neymar, one of Boniface’s GOAT picks, has scored over 400 career goals and provided more than 250 assists at club and international level.
- Hatem Ben Arfa enjoyed standout spells at Marseille, Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain, known for his individual skill and dribbling.
- Nigerian forward Victor Boniface plays for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany’s Bundesliga and is a key member of the Super Eagles.
- Neymar has been capped more than 120 times for Brazil and is one of the country’s all-time top scorers.
- Boniface’s selections celebrate creative flair a quality many fans link to the joy of football beyond trophies and statistics.
