Lionel Messi. Credit: FIFA
A former Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh, has described Lionel Messi’s display in Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener as superhuman, declaring that the 38-year-old has become a footballing “AI” version of himself.
Messi delivered a masterclass as Argentina began the defence of their title with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, scoring all three goals in a match played just days before his 39th birthday.
The hat-trick also saw him equal German legend Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals.
Speaking on Global Football Insights with Oliseh on Wednesday, the former Super Eagles captain said Messi’s ability to dominate at the highest level at his age is unprecedented.
“This is Lionel Messi AI. There is no other way to describe this. Never in the history of football has a 38-year-old man performed as Messi did yesterday.
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“Not only did he score three goals in an opening match, but the manner in which he scored them is remarkable,” Oliseh said.
The former Ajax midfielder added that Messi’s brilliance reminded him of a nickname given to the Argentine by a childhood friend, but said his recent performances now warrant a new description.
“A childhood friend of mine has consistently referred to Messi as the oracle for the past 15 years. Based on what I observed yesterday, I will now refer to him as Lionel Messi AI. It is not solely due to his three goals, but rather the manner in which he achieved them.
“Now, you know I have a passion for shooting. The way he struck the ball for the third goal, the precision, the movement. And Messi does not merely score tap-in goals; he certainly walks. But consider it this way,” he said.
Saheed Oyelakin
Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.
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