Iran's Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz has joked that Fifa must stop Barcelona striker Lionel Messi from facing other teams as he is not human.

The former Manchester United assistant manager, who was in the dugout back in 2014 when Messi netted an injury time winner against Iran at the World Cup, has said that Real Madrid's Ronaldo is the best player in the world simply because the Argentine is not from this planet.

'' 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,'' Carlos Queiroz said to fifa.com.

''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!''

The Super Eagles were held to a goalless draw by Iran in their World Cup opener in 2014, but qualified for the last sixteen after beating Bosnia 1-0 thanks to Peter Odemwingie's 29th minute goal.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : twitter.com/Pee4Pius