Nigeria International Calvin Bassey has opened up on how Lionel Messi influenced his decision to play for The Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The Italian-born defender decided to choose the Nigerian national team ahead of the Three Lions of England.
Bassey revealed what led to his choice in terms of playing for the Super Eagles, during his interview session with Sky Sports. He said, “When Nigeria played Argentina, they lost 2-1, but it was a good game.”
“Messi, of course, Messi is Messi in it. He scored that outrageous goal. I think it was knee, left foot, then right foot. It was top.”
“But that was more of a motivation to me to want to play for Nigeria and also play on the big stage.”
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles of Nigeria needed a draw to qualify for the next round of the tournament.
However, the Argentina national team scored a late-gasp minute goal to send the Super Eagles out of the competition.
Messi scored the opener for the Argentina side after he received a long ball, controlled it with his knee, and hit it aggressively into the goalpost.
The Super Eagles got the equalizer in the second half of the game via a penalty from Victor Moses.
However, former Manchester United center back Marcos Rojo scored the winner for the Argentina side.
According to Bassey, even though the Super Eagles lost the match against Argentina, the team won his heart due to their resilience.
Bassey claimed he made up his mind to join the Super Eagles during the team performance against Argentina in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The defender was born in Italy, but he moved to England as a child and grew up in Newham, where he showed interest in playing football.
The Fulham defender is eligible to play for either Italy or England, including Kenya, but he optioned for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in 2021.
He debuted for the Super Eagles in the 2022 FIFA World Qualifiers match against Ghana, which ended in 0-0.
Since he made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2022, the 24-year-old has been an integral part of the squad.
He played a significant part in helping the Super Eagles finish second in the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
How Old Is Calvin Bassey?
The center back was born on December 31, 1999, in the city of Aosta, Italy. He is currently 24 years old with a height of 6 feet and one inch.
What is Calvin Bassey’s net worth?
The Fulham defender has a net worth of £4.6 million. Bassey got this huge net worth from football salaries and investment.
Calvin Bassey Wages
Bassey earns a weekly wage of £45,000 and a yearly income of £2,340, 000.
How much was Calvin Bassey sold for?
The Fulham football team paid a whopping amount of €21 million for the centre back after a season of stellar performance at Ajax.
