‘It’s a true art form’: Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye on high fashion and life at Udinese

The former Watford player talks about his off-field pursuits, lessons from the World Cup and unfinished business

When Maduka Okoye visited Paris fashion week for the Jean Paul Gaultier show, taking his seat in the front row alongside rapper Cardi B, the online reaction was swift. Within hours, footage of the Udinese and Nigeria goalkeeper was all over TikTok and Instagram – where his audience now stretches near to two million followers – transforming the appearance into a viral cultural moment that crossed beyond the boundaries of football.

Yet ask Okoye to reflect on his sudden explosion into the fashion ecosystem, and he frames it not as a pursuit of celebrity or status, but as a genuine interest in art. “Being at the Paris fashion week was really impressive,” Okoye tells the Guardian. “It was my first time really coming into contact with high fashion, and it was fascinating. It’s a true art form. I enjoyed it immensely, and since that moment I’ve become a much bigger fan of fashion than I was before.”