Iran manager, Carlos Queiroz, claims Argentine captain, Lionel Messi is not human and should not be allowed to take part in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer.
Queiroz, who has Portuguese heritage like Messi’s rival Cristiano Ronaldo, is poised to lead Iran to their second World Cup finals in Russia.
Iran will face Spain, Portugal and Morocco in Group B at the Russia 2018 World Cup while Nigeria will face Messi’s Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.
The former Portuguese manager told FIFA at the two-day Team Seminar in
Sochi, Russia on Tuesday that five time Ballon d ‘Or winner can punish a momentary lapse in concentration.
“I’ve always said that Messi is an extraordinary player. He’s out of this world. If he were human, he wouldn’t have had that magical moment in that match (Argentina beat Iran in the group phase with a late Messi goal),” Queiroz told FIFA.com referring to Iran’s 1-0 loss to Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“I don’t usually like losing, but I didn’t come away from that defeat with a negative feeling.
“It’s when something magical like that happens that you know that football is alive and kicking, and that’s why it’s one of the best sports in the world to watch.
“And it’s even more of a special moment when it comes from a player who shouldn’t be allowed to play by FIFA until it’s proven that he’s actually human.
