Google Doodle, on Monday, paid tribute to Rashidi Yekini, the legendary Nigerian footballer, on what would have been his 60th birthday.

Yekini was renowned for his goal-scoring abilities and his contributions to Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles.

He played a crucial role in their qualification for the 1994 World Cup, where he scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal in a historic match against Bulgaria, where Nigeria became victorious in a 3:0 win.

His iconic celebration, clutching the net with tears of joy, remains a cherished moment in football history and served as the inspiration for today’s Google Doodle.

Yekini’s journey began in 1981 when he joined his first football club, UNTL FC, in Kaduna, marking the beginning of a remarkable career

He later joined the Shooting Stars, where he left an indelible mark by scoring an impressive 45 goals in just 53 games. His exceptional goal-scoring abilities earned him the title of African Footballer of the Year in 1983, making him the first Nigerian player to achieve this honor

Despite facing significant challenges in his early life, including periods of homelessness and taking up jobs as a welder and mechanic to make ends meet, Yekini’s unwavering passion for football was evident.

Yekini died in 2011 after an illness.