AI builds perfect footballer better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Ever wondered what the perfect male footballer would be like?
Well, wonder no more. Mirror Football asked artificial intelligence website ChatGPT to build the perfect footballer - one that could beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League scoring record and Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or tally. And we can now reveal the results...
Unsurprisingly, AI's dream player has snatched some of Ronaldo's and Messi's traits. The superstar is blessed with Ronaldo's strength and leadership - allowing him to dominate in the air and take the captain's armband - but he also has Messi's trademark agility.
Yet AI's star has ignored both of their outstanding scoring exploits. He instead has the shooting of Robert Lewandowski, who won the European Golden Shoe in 2021 and 2022. It's not a bad shout considering the Barcelona striker has scored 581 club goals.
When it comes to pace, there is only one player to emulate: Paris Saint-Germain's lightning-quick forward Kylian Mbappe. AI's footballer also has the dribbling of Neymar, the adaptability of Thierry Henry and the versatility of Philipp Lahm.
Man Utd lose seven players and sign three as January transfer window closesDuring his Santos days, Neymar once dribbled past half-a-dozen or so Flamengo players and scored to win the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of 2011. Henry could play anywhere along the front three, while Lahm was an accomplished midfielder and defender.
Speaking of Lahm, he isn't the only defender used by AI to create their ultimate star. This player has the discipline of Virgil van Dijk and the heading of Sergio Ramos. The latter, who once hit 13 goals in a term, has been plucked for his ability to score from set pieces.
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Van Dijk, meanwhile, has a good disciplinary record. The Liverpool captain has been sent off just twice during his 239-game Premier League career. Patrick Vieira, Duncan Ferguson and Richard Dunne share the record for the most red cards in the division (eight).
AI's perfect player has also taken attributes from iconic midfielders. He has the endurance of N'Golo Kante, the passing of Kevin De Bruyne, the intelligence of Andrea Pirlo and - in a shock to many - the mental toughness of Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone.
Kante, who now plays for Al-Ittihad, worked tirelessly to help Leicester win the Premier League title against the odds in 2016. He followed that up by lifting several trophies at Chelsea - including another English title and the Champions League.
De Bruyne is regarded as one of football's great passers. "De Bruyne is the best the Premier League has ever seen," Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports in 2021. "I've never seen anyone like him. The weight of the ball, the killer-ball passes, the precision, is just phenomenal."
Pirlo's intelligence was at the heart of his game, while Simeone stunned Spanish football by leading Atletico to the La Liga title in 2014 and 2021. Simeone was just as mentally tough as a player, most notably when David Beckham kicked him at the 1998 World Cup.
Last but not least is the invented player's work ethic. Surprisingly, AI have taken this trait from Luis Suarez. Although Suarez isn't lazy by any stretch of the imagination, the Uruguayan is best known for scoring wonderful goals... and plenty of them.
ChatGPT's search results are subject to change.
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