Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has picked Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen as his favourite active footballer snubbing some high-profile names like treble winner Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
The 45-year-old retired striker was asked some quick-fire questions while at an award show in France on a wide range of topics, including his favourite teammate when he was at Chelsea.
Despite playing alongside legends like Mikel Obi, Michael Ballack, and William Gallas, Drogba picked Frank Lampard as his favourite teammate.
Drogba’s choice is however warranted as the retired England midfielder is only one of two players who have outscored him in the history of Chelsea.
According to Transfermarkt, Lampard bagged an impressive 211 goals for Chelsea, with Drogba coming in third on the list of the club’s highest-ever goal scorers with 164 goals.
Bobby Tampling is second with 172 goals scored for the North London club.
In the quick-fire session with Sports Illustrated, Drogba was also asked to name his favourite active player at the moment and he answered without any hesitation, “Victor Osimhen.”
The 24-year-old marksman is currently one of the best strikers in world football, despite the drama surrounding him and his club, Napoli in recent days.
Some fans have drawn comparisons between Osimhen and Drogba, as the two strikers have a similar potency in front of goal. Drogba managed 302 club goals in his career, while Osimhen currently sits at 105 club goals.
In an interview with the Nigerian Football Federation in 2022, Osimhen had said that he looked up to Drogba while growing up.
“My childhood idol is Didier Drogba. The goal moment I cherished was when I scored against Chelsea. The feeling was special because I know a lot of my friends that are Chelsea fans, and before the game, they texted me that they don’t care if Chelsea wins, as long as I scored.
“They wanted me to actualise my dream and that’s one of the best moments in my career,” the 24-year-old said.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
