No one has been more consistent and committed than the Nigeria international during a rigorous campaign for club and country
Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has featured in 70 games this season for Nigeria and Rangers, the most of any footballer in the world at the moment.
Aribo hit the 70-match mark on Thursday during the Super Eagles 2-1 win over Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The 25-year-old amassed 57 matches for Rangers on the domestic and continental scenes, scoring nine goals and supplying ten assists.
Aribo also made 13 appearances for Nigeria, spread across the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon (3), 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (7), friendlies (2), and that 2023 Afcon qualifier against the Leone Stars.
That last match takes Aribo beyond Liverpool’s trio of Colombian forward Luis Diaz (69), Senegal’s star Sadio Mane (67), and Egyptian icon Mohamed Salah (66), as well as Guatemala’s attacking midfielder Óscar Santis (68), and Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (67).
No other Nigerian international made the top 100 chart of players with the most appearances this term.
Several football fans are astounded by Aribo’s undeniable quality, robot-like consistency, and unquestionable commitment.
And many took to the comment section of a post by journalist Sulaiman Folarin on Aribo to express their affection for the Rangers ace. Some supporters, however, called on the former Charlton Athletic lad to find time to get adequate rest ahead of next season.
The man is a machine
— Steven Smith (@stevesiebear) June 10, 2022
A God among men
— HayRfc (@HayRfc1) June 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/StevenP72508932/status/1535380624651046913
Super Joe
— The Dart Guy (@TheDartGuys) June 10, 2022
Total athlete and sportsman. A few 120min games in the mix also.
— Username10010010 (@Username1001003) June 10, 2022
He's an absolute star, now let him rest!
— Mo Laudrup (@MoLaudrup) June 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/Olusayo1/status/1535211677033046016
He needs to rest so he won't burn out
— T BARZ (@TONNZ99) June 10, 2022
It's too much. He was getting burned out when he went over 50 matches. He needs rest!
— Calvin Lundstram (@Jeremia83980738) June 10, 2022
That’s a looot!…..he needs to get some rest ASAP to avoid imminent injury/burnout
— Adehenry (@adelaja_02) June 10, 2022
Any chance the poor guy can get a break now?
— James (@jmcghie79) June 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/1872RCK/status/1535373051424120832
Having featured in all of head coach Jose Peseiro’s three games in charge of the Super Eagles so far, Joe Aribo is in line to make his 71st appearance when Nigeria face Sao Tome and Principe at the Stade d’Agadir in Morocco on Monday, June 13.
Diaz is Columbian, lads