The Super Eagles didn't make it to the World Cup, but one Nigerian goalkeeper is still winning hearts at the tournament.
Maduka Okoye, 26, has become an internet sensation after being spotted among football stars at the World Cup. His pictures are trending on Instagram and X, and women around the world are taking notice.
American superstar Toni Braxton got involved when a video emerged of an elderly mother swooning over Okoye. "Whose momma is this? I love her. Her and my mom should be friends," Braxton wrote.
Ashley Camille, a Los Angeles-based digital creator, even apologised for leaving Okoye out of a piece on the "Zaddys of the World Cup." She said, "He's not technically in the World Cup, but who cares. Maduka Okoye is 6-foot-6 and he speaks six different languages."
The attention has been massive. According to Blackish Press, Okoye surpassed 1 million Instagram followers in less than one week — up from around 250,000 before his online success.
"I said it once, and I'll say it again, football players are the hottest of any sport—period." — Ashley Camille
But this isn't just about looks. Okoye has the stats to back up the hype. In the 2025/26 Serie A season, he recorded 10 clean sheets in 30 appearances for Udinese Calcio. That makes him the first Nigerian goalkeeper to reach double figures in clean sheets in a top-five European league since Vincent Enyeama in 2015.
Okoye plays for the Italian Serie A club Udinese Calcio and represents the Nigeria national team. He has re-established himself as one of Europe's top rising keepers after a standout club campaign.
In 2025, Okoye voluntarily opted out of the Super Eagles squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Coach Eric Chelle had named him in the preliminary 54-man list, but Okoye withdrew to regain his fitness and form following a two-month suspension from his club.
Despite the sudden fame, Okoye insists he isn't chasing the attention. In a 2025 interview with sports analyst AY Suga, he said, "My priorities are somewhere else than being a fine boy. As a professional, you have to keep these things aside. You cannot combine sports with too much womanising."
He added, "It has always been a part of me because women have always been a little bit crazy about me. But I don't really pay too much attention."
Earlier in June, Okoye sparked a massive international viral wave during a Nigeria friendly against Portugal. Close-up television broadcasts caught his face during the pre-match presentation, and the internet did the rest.
Now, as the World Cup continues without Nigeria, Okoye remains one of the most talked-about footballers on social media — even without kicking a ball at the tournament.