Former Nigeria midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha received a FIFA World Cup Superior Player of the Match Winner award on June 11, 2026, recognizing his performance against Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
The award was presented in a private office setting, where Okocha unboxed a silver trophy from a protective case. The honor acknowledges his display in Nigeria’s 3-2 group-stage victory over Spain on June 13, 1998, at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France.
The trophy and accompanying certificate were issued through a partnership between football media company COPA90 and Michelob ULTRA. A letter presented with the award stated that no official Player of the Match award existed at the FIFA World Cup before 2002.
As a result, the two organizations created a special edition trophy to retroactively honor standout performances from earlier tournaments. The letter cited Okocha’s 1998 match, noting the term “sexy football” was used to describe his play, and confirmed the award would be engraved alongside other pre-2002 performances.
Okocha, who earned 73 caps for Nigeria and played in three World Cups from 1994 to 2002, featured in three matches at France 1998. In the Spain game, he helped Nigeria come from behind to win their tournament opener.
The June 2026 presentation included a blue folder and case branded with COPA90 and Michelob ULTRA logos. Okocha thanked both organizations during the unboxing. The initiative forms part of a broader effort to recognize historic World Cup performances that predate the competition’s official match awards.