Photo: Ex-Manchester United star Juan Mata graduates with Nigerian Afrobeat star

Juan Mata is one of the very few players to have won every possible trophy in club football. He also won the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata completed a course at the prestigious Harvard University alongside Nigerian afrobeat star, Patoranking, Soccernet.ng reports.

Mata is one of the few players in International football to have won every possible trophy. The little magician, El Mago, won the Copa Del Rey with Valencia in 2008.

He was a part of the Spain team that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the EURO Championships in 2012. He won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in the same year, and lifted the UEFA Europa League the following year.

As his career winds down, the 36-year-old is already preparing for life after football. In a recent image that went viral, the former Manchester United midfielder graduated from Havard Business School.

Alongside Mata, Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, popularly known by his stage name Patoranking, graduated from the Havard Business School as well.

American stand-up comedian, Roy Norris Wood Jr, was also a graduate of the 2024 Havard Business School. He is best known for his correspondent appearances on The Daily Show.


Patoranking is famous in a lot of hit songs like, I’m in Love, My Woman My Everything, Abobi, and the Is It Because I Love You feature with Lil Kesh, amongst others.


Patoranking is also an avid football fan. He actively cheered for the Super Eagles at the AFCON 2019 tournament in Egypt, where they won the bronze medal.

This post was last modified on June 12, 2024 7:42 am

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria. With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience. He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.

Recent Posts

Report: La Liga rivals eye Iheanacho January loan move from Sevilla

La Liga side Las Palmas are reportedly making a push to secure Super Eagles forward… Read More

4 hours ago

Report: Onuachu nears 3-year deal with Super Lig giants amid Trabzonspor interest

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu is on the verge of signing a three-year deal with… Read More

5 hours ago

Bundesliga relegation fighters eye escape route for Gift Orban from Lyon

German Bundesliga club Hoffenheim are in advanced talks with Ligue 1 club Lyon for the… Read More

5 hours ago

Report: Super Lig giants Galatasaray begin talks to sign Nigerian striker

Reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray have opened talks with Lyon for the signing of former Super… Read More

6 hours ago

Record signing: Arsenal hero Tomáš Rosický welcomes Nigerian youngster Emmanuel Uchenna to Sparta Prague

Sparta Prague have made a major statement in the transfer market by signing 21-year-old Nigerian… Read More

6 hours ago

“Reminds me of myself” – Ex-Inter Milan star lauds Lookman after winning CAF POTY

Former Super Eagles and Inter Milan striker, Obafemi Martins, has heaped praise on Ademola Lookman… Read More

7 hours ago