Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and American rapper Cardi B caught a lot of attention on social media after they showed up together at the Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The duo attended the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2026 Haute Couture Show. Okoye helped Cardi B to her seat, and they sat side by side to enjoy the runway show. They were also seen together at the Messika presentation during the same event.
Videos from this outing quickly went viral on TikTok, X, and other platforms. Fans reacted to their easy-going interaction and their fashion choices. Cardi B’s red outfit at the Haute Couture Show was praised as one of the best looks of the event.
Just hours before the fashion show, the celebrity gossip site DeuxMoi shared photos of Cardi B and Okoye chatting from a balcony during a private event. They were seen smiling and laughing together. These images added to the buzz around the goalkeeper that has been growing in recent weeks.
Speculation About Their Relationship
This appearance has sparked rumors about the nature of their relationship, especially given Cardi B’s well-known dating history. This includes her recent breakup with NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who is the father of her youngest child.
But neither Cardi B nor Okoye has spoken publicly about this, and there is no proof they are romantically involved. Reports say Okoye has an on-off relationship with Jelicia Westhoff, the mother of his son, Emiliano Isiah, and they are co-parenting.
Okoye's Rising Fame
Okoye, who plays for Udinese in Italy’s Serie A, has gained attention recently for more than just football. He has been noticed for his looks, fashion appearances, and growing social media following.
He went viral in June after Nigeria’s friendly match against Portugal in Leiria, which the Super Eagles lost 2-1. Close-up shots of him during the pre-match presentation got reactions from fans and celebrities around the world, even with Nigeria not participating in the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
His Instagram following jumped over one million in just a week after that match, up from about 250,000. Just days before the Paris appearance, he presented the pole position trophy to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone.
Background on Okoye
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, to a Nigerian father and a mother with German and French roots, Okoye made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2019. At 1.98 metres tall, the 26-year-old started his professional career in Germany before moving to Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam, where he was named the Player of the Season for the 2020/21 campaign.
His good performances got him a transfer to Watford in 2022, and he joined Udinese the following year. There, he kept 10 clean sheets in 30 Serie A matches last season and was named the club’s Player of the Season. He returned to international duty in November 2025 after a two-month suspension linked to an illegal betting issue. He has also been named an ambassador for Enugu State, where he plans to set up a football academy and charitable foundations for young people.
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