Former Nigeria captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has lavished praise on Lionel Messi following the Argentine superstar’s breathtaking display in his country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the veteran forward as an “AI version” of himself.
Messi was the star of the show as defending champions Argentina began the defence of their world title in emphatic fashion with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria. The legendary forward produced a masterclass, scoring all three goals to register a memorable hat-trick just days before celebrating his 39th birthday.
The remarkable performance also saw Messi draw level with German football icon Miroslav Klose on 16 FIFA World Cup goals, further strengthening his place among the greatest players in the tournament’s history.
Reacting to the display, Oliseh admitted he was left stunned by the level of quality the former Barcelona captain continues to produce despite approaching his 39th birthday. According to the former Super Eagles midfielder, Messi is doing things that football has never witnessed from a player of his age.
Speaking on Global Football Insights with Oliseh, the former Ajax midfielder said Messi’s performance went beyond ordinary football and deserved an entirely new description.
“This is Lionel Messi AI. There is simply no other way to describe what we witnessed,” Oliseh said.
“I have never seen a 38-year-old footballer perform at this level in the history of the game. It wasn’t just the fact that he scored a hat-trick in a World Cup opener, but the quality of every goal and the way he controlled the game from start to finish.”
Oliseh explained that while one of his childhood friends has referred to Messi as “The Oracle” for more than a decade because of his football intelligence, he now believes the Argentine deserves an even more fitting nickname.
“A childhood friend of mine has called Messi ‘The Oracle’ for about 15 years,” he continued. “But after watching what he did against Algeria, I think it’s time for a new name. For me, he is now Lionel Messi AI.”
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder added that what impressed him most was not simply the number of goals Messi scored, but the extraordinary technique behind them, particularly his third strike.
“I’ve always paid close attention to shooting technique,” Oliseh said. “The way Messi struck the ball for the third goal—the accuracy, the movement, the execution—was simply exceptional. These are not ordinary finishes.”
He also pointed out that Messi has never relied on easy goals throughout his illustrious career, noting that the Argentine consistently produces moments of brilliance that separate him from other elite players.
Messi’s outstanding display has once again sparked conversations about his longevity, with many football observers amazed that he continues to dominate on the biggest stage despite being one of the oldest outfield players at the tournament.
Argentina’s convincing victory has placed the reigning world champions in a strong position early in the competition, while Messi’s latest heroics have reinforced his status as one of football’s greatest-ever performers, even as he enters the twilight of an extraordinary career.
Galaxy Sports Production
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