'He is from another planet' - Super Eagles player recounts facing Messi at 2010 WC

Nigerian midfielder, Lukman Haruna has hailed Argentine superstar and seven-time Ballon D'or winner, Lionel Messi saying he is from a different planet.

The 31-year-old midfielder was part of the Super Eagles team that faced the Albiceleste in the group stages during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The Maradona-led Argentine side won by a lone goal, courtesy of Gabriel Heinze's diving header in the 6th minute.

According to the ex-Monaco man, it was a great moment for him to come up against the best player in the world on the World Cup stage.

He added that facing Messi made him lose his confidence as a player due to the magician's ability to turn games around in a split second.

He revealed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH Sports Extra.

“People talk about Messi a lot, but I must tell you he is from another planet, the ex- Golden Eaglets captain told The Punch.

“It was a great moment for me. Seeing him walk down the tunnel that day, I won’t lie; I lost my confidence as a player that moment because he is a player capable of singlehandedly destroying any team.

“But I overcame it after our anthem was rendered but unfortunately we lost that game. I still have pictures of that game in my gallery where I came up against him. Each time the Eagles take on Argentina and I see those pictures, it rekindles old memories of my time in the Eagles.”

Haruna Lukman captained the Golden Eaglets to triumph at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2007.

He also featured for Nigeria at the U-20 World Cup hosted by Egypt in 2009 before gaining a call-up to represent the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup a year later.

Check out highlights of the game below:



WDN