Kanu

Nwankwo Kanu is one of the greatest players in African and Nigerian history, recognized for technical elegance, bewildering dribbles and memorable goals throughout a career that spanned three decades. Born in Owerri, Nigeria, in 1976, the tall and skilled striker revealed himself to the world at Ajax Amsterdam in the 1990s. With Ajax, he won the 1995 UEFA Champions League, being an important part of the Dutch team that dominated Europe during that period. After his transfer to Inter Milan, he was diagnosed with a serious heart malformation in 1996, which forced him to undergo open-heart surgery that put his life and career at risk. His recovery was considered a medical and sporting miracle. At Arsenal, under the command of Arsène Wenger, Kanu lived his most productive phase in Europe, winning titles in the Premier League and the FA Cup, and becoming famous for acrobatic goals and plays of genius that delighted fans around the world. He ended his career at Portsmouth, the club through which he won the 2008 FA Cup in surprising fashion. For the Nigerian national team, he was Olympic champion at the 1996 Atlanta Games and participated in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Elected African Player of the Year in 1996 and 1999, he is considered one of the greatest African players in football history.