Afrobeat singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has revealed that Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and NBA star Jaylen Brown are members of a group chat where they recently discussed visiting Nigeria.

Burna Boy disclosed this in an interview with ESPN UK, posted on its YouTube channel on Tuesday.

The Grammy-winning singer said the three celebrities belong to what they call their “Seven group chat”.

“Now we have a 7 team. It’s me, Vini, and I don’t know if you know Jaylen Brown,” Burna Boy said.

When the interviewer confirmed that Brown is an NBA player, the singer replied, “Yeah, that’s our Seven group chat.”

Asked what they discuss in the group, Burna Boy said their recent conversation centred on bringing the two sports stars to Nigeria.

“It’s a lot of things. The last conversation we had is bringing all of them to Nigeria,” he said.

The singer also spoke about his football academy in Nigeria, saying he was inspired to establish it after watching a documentary about community football in Jamaica.

He said he wanted young footballers from the academy to eventually play for clubs such as Manchester United.

“So I just started throwing my money at it,” Burna Boy said.

Burna Boy also discussed his relationship with several sports stars, including former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and England captain Harry Kane.

He said he met Pogba at his 30th birthday celebration in the United States after the former France international surprised him by showing up at his house.

On Kane, Burna Boy said they met while the singer was attending his uncle’s birthday dinner.

“We just ran into him having dinner. And, yeah, just dragged him to the party,” he said.

The singer also identified former Nigeria international Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha as his football GOAT, saying the former Bolton Wanderers midfielder had not received enough recognition for his influence on the game.

“Obviously Jay-Jay Okocha, and I’ll tell you why,” Burna Boy said.

“Because I feel like he—he hasn’t gotten the flowers that he deserves. You feel me? I feel like his name should be called in the leagues of, like, the—the legends’ legends.”

Burna Boy further argued that Okocha’s name should be mentioned ahead of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho among the game’s greatest players.

“I think you should even call Jay-Jay Okocha’s name before you call Ronaldinho,” he said.

Frenchman Kevin Lamour has left his role as FIFA’s chief operating officer after criticising president Gianni Infantino’s scrapped private investor plan, world football’s governing body confirmed Monday.

Lamour was the third highest-ranking FIFA official.

“FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s chief operating officer has ended on August 17, 2026,” a FIFA spokesperson told AFP, confirming a report in The Athletic.

“FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.”

A former employee of European governing body UEFA, Lamour had served as FIFA COO since November 2024.

He was one of the highest-ranking FIFA figures to speak out against Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

Lamour described the plan as “the project of one person”.

“The time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions,” he said in a statement sent to the Associated Press (AP) and published on 31 July.

“If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” he added. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, considered Infantino’s number two, and chief of global football development Arsene Wenger both later welcomed the decision to ditch the proposal.

Former Arsenal manager Wenger said it was “absolutely necessary” to scrap it.

The controversy has left Infantino’s position under threat for the first time since he was first elected in 2016.

European football’s governing body UEFA, North and Central America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation released a joint letter earlier this month declaring “football belongs to no individual”.

Pau Cubarsi is currently leading in the votes for the Golden Boy Award 2026.

The 19-year-old Barcelona centre-back is on top and ahead of his international and club team mate Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande.

Yamal, however, would not be able to win the award for a second time due to regulations.

The final votes will be made later this year, with the awards evening set to take place in November.

It comes after Cubarsi lifted the World Cup this summer with Spain as he starred in defence for Luis de la Fuente, which followed a La Liga 2025/26 title triumph with Barcelona.

Still just a teenager, Cubarsi has already made 85 La Liga appearances for Barca, as well as 26 appearances in the Champions League.

Should Cubarsi win the award, it would cap off a remarkable 2026 for the highly regarded defender.