Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has boldly claimed that he was faster than football’s most renowned speedsters, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, and Kylian Mbappe, during his illustrious playing career.
The former Inter Milan forward made the statement during an interview with ESPN at the CAF Awards in Morocco on Monday when asked to compare his speed with past and present football icons.
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When questioned about Arsenal legend Henry, Martins confidently replied, “I’m faster than him,” before asserting that he was “way faster” than other speedsters like Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappe, Kyle Walker, Arjen Robben, and Gareth Bale.
The 40-year-old extended his claim to include Mohamed Salah, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário, Leroy Sane, Adama Traore, and Theo Walcott, responding emphatically, “I’m faster than him,” to each comparison.
Martins, who netted 18 goals for Nigeria, cheekily added that he had better ball control than Robben and insisted that Ronaldo Nazário was well aware of his superior speed.
For those doubting his assertions, Martins invited them to verify his claims with his former teammates at Inter Milan.
“There’s no player on this list faster than me,” he declared. “Go back to Inter Milan and ask about me. There’s no way.”
Known for his blistering pace, Martins scored 201 goals across a stellar career with clubs like Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Birmingham City, Levante, Seattle Sounders, and Shanghai Shenhua. His speed and trademark goal celebrations made him a fan favourite wherever he played.
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