Newcastle's cult hero insists he was faster than Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo in their prime
A former Newcastle star claims he was faster than Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo at the peak of his powers.
And he's probably not wrong, as his old-time video game stats also put him on par with the great Olympic sprinter. Usain Bolt.
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In addition to its characteristic somersault celebrations, Newcastle UnitedEdit Cult hero Obafemi Martins was famous for his speed.
Before Micky Van der Ven, Adama Traore, Kyle Walker, Timo Werner and the rest of the Premier League's current speedsters, Martins was considered in a league of his own when it came to pace.
Although now he asks all the fans and experts a very good question: 'Have you forgotten about me?'
When you think of fast players today, chances are the same group comes to mind… christian ronaldoGareth Bale Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah.
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But Martins insists a great version of himself at the peak of his playing career would have left them all in the dust.
Speaking to ESPN Africa, the former Nigeria international was given a list of current and former stars known for their speed, and was asked if he was faster or not.
And he seemed quite offended that he was even compared to some of them…
Asked about Tottenham centre-back Van de Ven, the The current fastest player in the Premier League – Martins replied: “Faster than him, for sure.”
About Walker, a full-back for Manchester City and England, he said: “I'm much faster than him.”
When asked about former Chelsea and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, Martins replied: “Much faster. Probably better on the ball.”
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Regarding Tottenham legend Bale, he responded the same and added: “Have you forgotten about me?”
But the list didn't end there. Comparisons with Henry Thierrysalah, ronaldoTraore, Leroy Sane and even Theo Walcott received the same response.
Martins was asked if there was anyone faster than him in football. There was no doubt.
He replied: “No player, go back to Inter (Milan) and ask for me.”
In addition to his electrifying pace, Martins was known for his powerful finishing and his aforementioned stunts, winning a large number of trophies.
He played for ten clubs in seven different countries, and spells at Inter Milan and Newcastle developed his reputation as one of the unsung heroes of his era.
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Starting his career in Italy, he burst onto the scene with Inter and boasted a record 49 goals and 14 assists in 136 appearances, playing a key role in their 2005/06 Serie A title.
In 2006, Martins joined Newcastle, where he quickly became a fan favourite.
His debut season saw him record 17 goals and five assists in 46 appearances in the Premier League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
During his three years at St. James' Park, he scored 35 goals and provided ten assists in 104 games.
Martins' career saw him move around Europe, including stints with Wolfsburg in Germany and Rubin Kazan in Russia, across the Atlantic to the United States and finally to China, where he retired.
A memorable moment came during a brief loan spell at Birmingham City in 2011, when he scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Arsenalwinning the club's first major trophy in decades.
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Describing the goal that won him the trophy, Martins said: “It was the easiest goal I have scored in my career.”
He won the Russian Cup and Russian Super Cup with Kazan before moving to Major League Soccerwhere he won the MLS Supporters' Shield and the US Open Cup with the Seattle Sounders.
Martins thrived on America's west coast, forming a lethal partnership with another former Premier League star, Clint Dempsey.
He had 43 goals and 22 assists in 84 appearances for Seattle, where he was crowned MVP by dazzling fans with his blistering speed and acrobatic celebrations.
The striker later joined Shanghai Shenhua in China, claiming some silverware in the 2017 Chinese FA Cup final with another decisive goal.
He later signed for Wuhan, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. The Chinese city was known to be the site of the first outbreak of the virus.
For Nigeria, Martins earned 42 caps and scored 18 goals, representing the Super Eagles in several major tournaments, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
