Sunday Oliseh has described Lionel Messi‘s performance in Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as superhuman, saying the 38-year-old has become the “AI” version of himself.
Messi produced a stunning display as Argentina national football team began the defence of their World Cup title with a 3-0 victory over Algeria national football team, scoring all three goals just days before his 39th birthday.
The hat-trick also saw Messi equal the World Cup scoring record of 16 goals held by German legend Miroslav Klose.
Speaking on Global Football Insights with Oliseh on Wednesday, the former Super Eagles captain said Messi’s ability to dominate football at the highest level at his age is unmatched.
“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.
“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 AFC Ajax midfielder added that Messi’s latest performance surpassed even the praise he had previously heard from a childhood friend.
“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.