‘Football Geniuses’ – Sunday Oliseh labels Barcelona and PSG stars ‘saviours’ of the game

Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh has hailed Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue as the ‘saviours’ of football following their outstanding performances during their respective Champions League semi-final games, Footynaija.com reports.

Yamal was the star turn for Barcelona in their thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan, scoring after a scintillating display of individual brilliance to inspire his team’s comeback. Meanwhile, Doue impressed as Paris Saint-Germain fashioned a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Both players are still only teenagers-17 and 19 respectively-but they have quickly developed a reputation for their fleet-footedness and wicked ability to successfully take on their marker one-v-one to create dangerous attacking situations for their teams.

Yamal and Doue’s craftiness on the ball during their respective games left Oliseh absolutely delighted. The former Nigeria international, who appears to be fed up with what he terms ‘overpassing’ in the modern game, sees the youngsters as players who have come to ‘save’ the game.

What Oliseh said

“Players like Lamine Yamal, Desire Doue of PSG, in my opinion, are the trending ‘Football Geniuses’ set to save football from ‘overpassing, less creativity and lack of spectacle,” he posted via X. “I had a blast watching PSG and Barcelona’s talents on Display. Cannot wait for next Tuesday and Wednesday. Can you?” 

Players like Lamine Yamal ,Désiré Doué of PSG in my Opinion are the Trending “Football Geniuses” set to save football from “overpassing ,less creativity and lack of spectacle”. I had a blast watching PSG and Barcelona talents on Display. Cannot wait for next Tuesday and… https://t.co/EX9ZP16ZLg

— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) May 1, 2025

Oliseh also singled out PSG duo Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as well as Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Barcelona’s Raphinha as players who leave him glued to his TV screen. He went further to tip Dembele and Yamal for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

“Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has so much vision, Raphinha makes it look effortlessly easy, Saka is so nimble-footed it is beautiful,” Oliseh continued.

“Dembele is for me in the company of Lamine Yamal, Ballon d’Or sure candidates. I am finally able to be fixated on the TV for ninety minutes thanks to these kinds of players.”

While Oliseh’s claim about the lack of creativity and ‘overpassing’ in modern-day football remains debatable, his excitement about Yamal and Doue is by no means misplaced.