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A former spokesman of 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, would enable football fans to continue enjoying the talents of some of the game’s most celebrated stars long after their international careers have ended. Blueprint reports
He made the proposal after submitting it to FIFA through the Nigeria 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 an end to a celebrated international career spanning 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 supporters with limited opportunities to watch them in competitive action, particularly when they become less visible after retirement.
“The introduction of the FIFA Over-40 World Cup will make the football-loving world continue to watch the best of all time on the field of play for a longer period,” he said.
Nigerian legends who inspired the proposal
The former FCTA spokesman said the proposed competition would address a longstanding concern among Nigerian football supporters, who often lose track of their favourite 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 supporters.
According to him, the proposed tournament could give such 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 of all time retire and become less visible publicly. We, the 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 remain involved in football development in their respective countries.
He said the idea was not limited to Nigerian players but was intended to bring together former international stars from across the world whose skills and achievements have left lasting impressions on the game.
Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, others among proposed attractions
Ogbuenyi listed several international football icons he believes could attract 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 enthusiasts across different generations.
The participation of globally recognised names could also help the tournament attract television audiences and commercial partners, particularly if the competition is organised in a way that balances entertainment with the physical demands of veteran footballers.
However, the involvement of any of the named players would depend on their eligibility, willingness to participate, fitness and the eventual rules of the proposed competition. The proposal remains an idea submitted for consideration, and FIFA has not announced its approval or plans to organise such a tournament.
Proposed age limit and eligibility rules
Ogbuenyi proposed that the competition be restricted to footballers aged between 40 and 65, creating a dedicated platform for mature veteran players.
He also suggested that participation should be limited to players who had represented their countries at senior international level.
Under his proposed rules, a footballer would be required to retire from senior international football before becoming eligible to represent his country in the veterans’ 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 duration, substitutions, squad sizes and the format of the competition. These would be important in ensuring that players across a wide age range could compete safely and fairly.
The age limit would also raise questions about how FIFA would handle players who remain active at club level after ending their international careers. Messi’s case illustrates the distinction, as his international retirement does not automatically end his professional club career.
Ogbuenyi’s proposal is therefore centred on creating another avenue for former international players to continue representing their countries, rather than simply extending the existing 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 supporters and representing their countries.
According to him, the competition could help former stars maintain their connection with their national teams and contribute to the development of younger generations through mentorship, experience-sharing and public engagement.
He also believes the tournament could provide professional footballers with a clearer transition pathway after leaving the more physically demanding environment of youth and senior international football.
For fans, he said, it would offer a chance to continue following their football idols and watching them demonstrate their skills in a competitive setting.
Another potential benefit, according to Ogbuenyi, is the opportunity to encourage players to maintain their fitness and remain engaged with football after retirement.
He further argued that the competition could discourage age cheating in youth and senior football categories by giving players another age-based tournament to aspire to when they reach 40.
That proposed benefit, however, would depend on the tournament’s design and enforcement. Age cheating in existing competitions is a complex problem that would not necessarily disappear simply because a veterans’ category was introduced.
Ogbuenyi says tournament could generate revenue for FIFA
The former FCTA spokesman expressed confidence that the proposed competition could be commercially viable, given the international appeal of the players he hopes to attract.
He identified television broadcasting rights and corporate partnerships as potential sources of revenue, arguing that a tournament featuring some of football’s most recognisable names could attract sponsors and viewers.
The involvement of former World Cup winners, continental champions and celebrated national-team captains could provide a strong marketing proposition, particularly if the tournament were organised to generate interest across multiple generations of supporters.
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, operational costs and the ability to maintain competitive quality.
FIFA would also need to assess the proposed tournament alongside its existing international calendar and other competitions. The proposal has yet to receive public approval from the world football governing body.
Why Messi’s retirement prompted the proposal
Ogbuenyi said Messi’s international retirement provided an opportune moment to submit his proposal because of the Argentine’s global popularity and the attention surrounding his farewell.
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 broader discussion about how football legends might remain visible after their playing careers.
“I have found this period of the retirement of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, the more auspicious time to submit this proposal,” he said.
“As the iconic Argentine footballer bowed out after a 21-year international soccer career on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, I kept wondering how the football world would look like if FIFA creates a new tournament that would give opportunity for talismanic players such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and others to continue to exhibit their skills on the global stage.”
He added that the idea had first occurred to him when Okocha retired about 15 years ago, but he considered Messi’s farewell a suitable moment to formally present it because of the anticipated global interest.
Messi’s international career included Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph and victories at the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. His farewell appearance on October 6 marked the end of his international playing career, although he remains able to continue playing 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 claims for bringing up this idea and putting it across through this proposal to FIFA. I am just writing as a football fan who wants the world to be happier through more football games entertainment,” he said.
He expressed confidence that FIFA would give the proposal due consideration, describing it as a possible innovation that could celebrate football legends while creating another platform for the development of the game.
Ogbuenyi currently works as an assistant editor with PREMIUM TIMES, a Nigerian online newspaper. He has previously worked with The Champion, The Comet, The Sun and ThisDay newspapers.
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