Former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has hailed Lionel Messi following Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

Speaking on Fox Sports after the match, Mikel questioned how the Argentine captain continues to deliver world-class performances despite the physical and mental demands of the tournament.

Reflecting on Argentina's hard-fought win, the former Nigerian international said the team had once again been pushed to its limits, raising concerns about how much more Messi can give as the competition progresses.

"Argentina has come through another difficult game where they've been pushed to the limit. How much has Messi played? How much has been taken away from him mentally, psychologically, and physically?" Mikel said.

He added that the key question is whether Messi can once again inspire Argentina to the semi-finals despite the heavy workload.

"But when you have Messi, I don't know what the guy eats. I don't know what he eats because every time you think it's finished, he comes up with something spectacular," he added.