JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
A former spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nosike Ogbuenyi, has urged the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to introduce an Over 40 World Cup to give retired international footballers another opportunity to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Ogbuenyi said the proposed competition, designed for players aged between 40 and 65, will allow football fans to continue to enjoy the talents of some of football’s most celebrated stars long after their international careers have ended. Project reports
He made the proposal after submitting it to FIFA through the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) secretariat in Abuja, arguing that the tournament could provide a new platform for former internationals, promote fitness and help keep football legends connected to the game.
The proposal comes in the wake of Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football. The Argentine captain played his farewell match for his country on October 6, 2026, bringing to an end a celebrated international career that spanned more than two decades. His retirement from international football does not mean he has ended his professional club career.
Ogbuenyi said the departure of iconic players from international football often leaves fans with limited opportunities to see them in competitive action, particularly when they become less visible after retirement.
“The introduction of the FIFA Over-40 World Cup will ensure that the football-loving world continues to watch the best of all time on the playing field for a longer period,” he said.
Nigerian legends who inspired the proposal
The former FCTA spokesperson said the proposed competition would address a long-standing concern among Nigerian fans, who often lose track of their favorite players after they retire from active international football.
He cited former Super Eagles stars such as Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amunike, Obafemi Martins, Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel as examples of players whose skills and contributions to Nigerian football remain memorable to fans.
According to him, the proposed tournament could give these players another opportunity to represent Nigeria, reconnect with fans and contribute to the development of the game.
“Here in Nigeria, we have seen our most talented and best players of all time retire and become less publicly visible. We, football fans, find it difficult to keep track of our legends and stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amunike, Obafemi Martins, Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel,” he said.
Ogbuenyi argued that the benefits of the competition would extend beyond entertainment, as former internationals could use their experience to inspire younger players and stay involved in the development of football in their respective countries.
He said the idea was not limited to Nigerian players but was aimed at bringing together former international stars from around the world whose skills and achievements have left lasting impressions in the game.
Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, others among the attractions on offer
Ogbuenyi listed several international football icons who he believes could draw global attention to the proposed competition.
They include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ángel Di María, Gabriel Batistuta, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Xavi Hernández, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo de Lima, Roberto Carlos, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry.
Others he mentioned were Oliver Kahn, Miroslav Klose, Manuel Neuer, Lothar Matthäus and Japan’s Keisuke Honda.
He believes the prospect of seeing some of these celebrated players return to the pitch in a structured international competition would appeal to football fans across generations.
The participation of globally recognized names could also help the tournament attract television audiences and commercial partners, especially if the competition is organized in a way that balances entertainment with the physical demands of veteran footballers.
However, the involvement of any of the nominated players will depend on their suitability, willingness to participate, fitness and any rules of the proposed competition. The proposal remains an idea under consideration, and FIFA has not announced its approval or intention to hold such a tournament.
Proposed age limit and eligibility rules
Ogbuenyi proposed limiting the competition to players between the ages of 40 and 65, creating a platform dedicated to mature veteran players.
He also suggested that participation should be limited to players who have represented their countries at senior international level.
Under his proposed rules, a player would have to retire from international football before he could represent his country in the veteran category.
The proposed restriction is intended to distinguish the competition from existing senior international football and establish it as a separate platform for former internationals.
If adopted, the rules would require further consideration of issues such as player fitness, medical assessments, match length, substitutions, team size and competition format. These would be important to ensure that players across a wide age range can compete safely and fairly.
The age limit would also raise questions about how FIFA would treat players who remain active at club level after finishing their international careers. Messi’s case illustrates the distinction, as his retirement from the national team does not automatically end his professional club career.
Ogbuenyi’s proposal is therefore focused on creating another avenue for former national team players to continue representing their countries, rather than simply extending the current Senior World Cup.
How the tournament could benefit former players
Ogbuenyi identified several potential benefits of the proposed Over-40 World Cup, including promoting fitness, keeping former footballers in the public eye and providing them with an additional source of income.
He argued that retirement from international football should not necessarily mean the end of a player’s public contribution to the sport, particularly for those who have spent years entertaining fans and representing their country.
According to him, the competition could help former stars maintain links with their respective national teams and contribute to the development of younger generations through mentorship, sharing experiences and public engagement.
He also believes the tournament could provide professional footballers with a clearer transition path after leaving the more physically demanding environment of international youth and senior football.
For fans, he said, it would offer the chance to continue following their football idols and watch them demonstrate their skills in a competitive setting.
Another potential benefit, according to Ogbuenyi, is the opportunity to encourage players to stay fit and stay engaged in football after retirement.
He also argued that the competition could discourage age-related cheating in youth and senior football categories, giving players another age-based tournament to aspire to when they reach their 40s.
The proposed benefit, however, would depend on the design and application of the tournament. Age obsolescence in existing competitions is a complex problem that would not necessarily disappear with the introduction of the veteran category.
Ogbuenyi says the tournament could generate revenue for FIFA
The former FCTA spokesperson expressed confidence that the proposed competition could be commercially viable, given the international appeal of the players it hopes to attract.
He identified television broadcast rights and corporate partnerships as potential sources of revenue, arguing that a tournament featuring some of soccer’s most recognizable names could attract sponsors and spectators.
The involvement of former World Cup winners, continental champions and celebrated national team captains could provide a strong marketing proposition, particularly if the tournament was staged to generate interest among multiple generations of fans.
However, the commercial success of such a competition would depend on several factors, including the willingness of former players to participate, broadcast demand, sponsorship commitments, operating costs and the ability to maintain competitive quality.
FIFA should also evaluate the proposed tournament alongside the existing international calendar and other competitions. The proposal has yet to receive public approval from world football’s governing body.
Because Messi’s retirement prompted the proposal
Ogbuenyi said Messi’s retirement from the national team provided an opportune moment to present his proposal due to the Argentine’s global popularity and the attention surrounding his departure.
He explained that the idea had been on his mind since Okocha retired from international football, but he waited for a moment that could generate a wider discussion about how football legends could remain visible after their playing careers.
“I found this period of retirement of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, the most propitious moment to present this proposal,” he said.
“As the iconic Argentine footballer retired after a 21-year international football career on Tuesday 6 October 2026, I kept wondering what the world of football would be like if FIFA created a new tournament that gave the opportunity to talismanic players like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and others to continue to showcase their skills on the global stage.”
He added that the idea first came to him when Okocha retired around 15 years ago, but he considered Messi’s departure an appropriate time to formally introduce it due to the expected global interest.
Messi’s international career includes Argentina’s triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024. His farewell appearance on 6 October marked the end of his international playing career, although he continues to play at club level.
Ogbuenyi said his motivation was not personal gain, but a desire to see football provide more entertainment and opportunities for former players.
“I am not making any claim for having raised this idea and presented it through this proposal to FIFA. I am only writing as a football fan who wants the world to be happier through more entertainment about football games,” he said.
He expressed confidence that FIFA will give due consideration to the proposal, describing it as a possible innovation that could celebrate football legends while creating another platform for the game’s development.
Ogbuenyi currently works as an assistant editor at PREMIUM TIMES, a Nigerian online newspaper. He previously worked with The Champion, The Comet, The Sun and ThisDay newspapers.
