Not Ronaldo or Messi: Super Eagles’ Tochukwu Nnadi calls ex-Chelsea man his GOAT

Super Eagles midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi has revealed that his best player is former Chelsea star N'Golo Kante, Soccernet.ng reports.

​Nnadi's career has grown in leaps and bounds over the last two years. He has gone from playing for Botev Plovdiv in Bulgaria to Zulte Waregem in Belgium, and now to one of the most historic clubs in Europe, Olympique Marseille.

​He only just completed his transfer from Waregem to Marseille in a €6 million deal during the January transfer window.

He is slowly working his way toward becoming a regular in the starting eleven, amid stiff competition from much more established players like Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Geoffrey Kondogbia.

​On the international stage, he earned his first Super Eagles call-up for Nigeria's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad and made his debut against Uganda in the final group stage game.

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​The 22-year-old is known for his composure on the ball, intelligent positioning, and high-octane pressing, which helps him win possession. And just like his compatriot Raphael Onyedika, he is also very good at dictating play from deep.

​In a recent interview at Marseille, the Super Eagle shared a likely influence for his style of play.

​Watch: Tochukwu Nnadi Reveals That Kante Is His Best Player

​In a recent video at Marseille, Tochukwu Nnadi revealed that his best player is former Chelsea man N'Golo Kante.

​The Frenchman, who is now at Fenerbahce, is known for his elite ball-winning ability and extraordinary work rate. In fact, when he was at his best at Chelsea, he was known for covering every blade of grass and for his ability to read the play to hunt down any opponent with the ball.

​Kante was basically the quintessential defensive midfielder at the height of his powers.

– Édition pic.twitter.com/GoBrJT83sM

— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) March 11, 2026

​Since Nnadi plays the same position, it is not difficult to see his reason for choosing Kante. Similarly, most attackers would go for stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Victor Osimhen, or other great forwards.

​Nnadi Looking To Break Into Marseille's Starting XI

​Since arriving at Marseille in January, Nnadi has failed to pin down a starting spot, which is understandable since he was signed as a prospect rather than an immediate impact signing.

​However, he will be hungry to secure a more important role, just as he did at his last two clubs.

​Unfortunately for him, he might have to bide his time before that happens. There is serious competition from veterans in his position. Furthermore, Marseille is in a volatile period, and no coach would risk his job on an unproven player right now.

​Nonetheless, he has the opportunity to prove himself during training. Recall that recently, coach Habib Beye admitted that he was impressed with the little he had seen from the Super Eagles star.

​Perhaps, if the results at Marseille stabilize and they start winning games consistently, he could get more minutes. For now, he will just have to bide his time and hope.