Joey Barton has sparked controversy by claiming that Africa has never produced a defender better than Jamie Carragher. His comments, made on the Common Sense Podcast, came in defense of Carragher’s earlier remarks about AFCON. The statement has triggered backlash from football fans and pundits worldwide.
Former England international Joey Barton has ignited a fresh debate in football circles with his recent remarks about African defenders. Speaking on the Common Sense Podcast, Barton insisted that no defender from Africa has ever been better than Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher. His statement came as a defense of Carragher, who had faced backlash over his earlier remarks downplaying the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.
Barton's comments have drawn sharp criticism from fans and football pundits, many of whom argue that Africa has produced world-class defenders, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Lucas Radebe, and Kolo Touré. Some see his remarks as dismissive of African football's rich defensive talent. Meanwhile, Carragher has since walked back his original comments, acknowledging that his words were poorly chosen. However, with Barton now entering the debate, discussions around African football’s legacy and recognition on the global stage are set to continue.
