CALVIN Bassey was the name on every lip last night even as his Rangers side lost the UEFA Europa League final to Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Super Eagles defender played all 120 minutes of the tense final at the Stadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in Seville, Spain, which Frankfurt won 5-4 on penalties after full-time and extra-time ended in a 1-1 draw.
Although his fellow Nigeria international Joe Aribo scored Rangers’ only goal from open play, it was Bassey who caught the eye and earned high praise from ex-players, pundits, journalists and football fans.
Bassey, playing in central defence, was strong, quick and brave for the Scottish side, and his stats were brilliant.
In regulation time, the towering 22-year-old made eight ball recoveries, four ball clearances, won four ground and aerial duels, and made three interceptions, according to Statsman Dave.
“Calvin Bassey has been absolutely phenomenal,” Rangers’ legendary former striker Ally McCoist said on BT Sport. “He has been a colossus this evening.”
Former England, Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, working as a BT Sport pundit, also waxed lyrical about the Nigerian youngster, who made his Super Eagles debut in March.
“Calvin Bassey, my word, what a performance,” Hargreaves said. “That was astonishing, the energy and effort. Everything about his game was fantastic. Anyone watching that will be thinking: ‘That’s the kind of player I want in my team’.”
Agreeing with both McCoist and Hargreaves, another Rangers legend, former England striker Mark Hateley, believes Bassey is destined for big things.
“Bassey has come so far, so quickly,” Hateley said on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound. “He’s established himself as a centre-half, wing-back, full-back.
“He’s put himself in a place right now where I imagine there’s a lot of clubs looking at him. He’s still only 22-years-old. He has been outstanding.”
BBC World Service reporter John Bennett, who covers African football extensively, also saluted Bassey.
“Calvin Bassey putting in a very impressive performance,” he tweeted as the game was going on.
Like Bennet, Nigerian sportscaster and analyst Babatunde Koiki was also blown away by Bassey’s classy showing on the big European stage.
Koiki believed Bassey was clearly the best player on the Sevilla pitch.
“In my humble opinion, @RangersFC and @NGSuperEagles central defender Calvin #Bassey has a strong shout for the man of the match award in this #UELfinal,” Koiki tweeted.
“He’s like a lawnmower. Covering every blade of grass, making key interceptions and winning every duel.”
In their rating of Rangers players after the final, Sky Sports awarded Bassey an eight out of 10, the highest mark along with Aribo.
“Calvin Bassey – 8. Just beaten to the ball for Frankfurt’s equaliser but Bassey was Rangers’ standout performer in Seville,” Sky Sports wrote.
“At just 22, Bassey produced a brilliant display, despite the pressure of the occasion. Clearances, one-on-one defending, recovery tackles, blocks… he did it all in a manner which suggests he will have more big nights like this in his career.”
Fans and big Twitter accounts also joined in the praise for Bassey’s brilliant performance, most predicting a bright future for the Nigerian.
“Win or lose, Calvin Bassey has been incredible! WHAT. A. PERFORMANCE,” @FootyAccummulators, a betting account with over 637,000 followers, tweeted.
A Twitter account devoted to mostly Premier League football analysis, @PremLeaguePanel, highlighted Bassey’s qualities during the final.
“Phenomenal defensive performance from 22-year-old Calvin Bassey in the Europa League final,” the account, which has over 142,000 followers, wrote.
“He was so dominant in all his duels and his lightning quick cover defending prevented several Frankfurt chances. Can play left-back and centre-back – his free transfer from Leicester looks like a top bargain.”
A football fan, who identifies himself as ‘Tommy Smith Again’, wrote: “No way Rangers can keep him he is far too good for Scottish football.”
An apparent Barcelona fan, @TaistoFCB, added his voice, writing: “Calvin Bassey has been something else since he has moved to CB this season.
“His combination of pace, strength and a decent ability on the ball make him a perfect modern centre-back. And he’s left-footed as well. What a player!”
The BBC Match of the Day account simply wrote: “Absolutely nobody is outrunning Calvin Bassey!”
Bassey joined Rangers on a free transfer from Leicester City U-23s in 2020 and his contract is until 2024.
He has made 49 appearances for Rangers in all competitions this season, making six assists and receiving eight yellow cards.
