A new era of football might soon arrive as scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) work on a robotic player that could outshine Lionel Messi on the field. Known as ARTEMIS, the robot, named after the Greek goddess of hunting, is designed to surpass Messi’s skills in soccer, potentially replacing human players in future World Cups. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and the 2022 World Cup champion, is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time. Despite his success, ARTEMIS might become the future of the sport.
The robot, with a name derived from the phrase “Advanced Robotic Technology for Enhanced Mobility and Improved Stability,” has garnered attention for its impressive capabilities. It has been recorded to walk at an incredible 2.1 meters per second, which could give it a significant edge on the football pitch. According to UCLA, ARTEMIS is not only the fastest humanoid robot but also the first of its kind capable of running, making it one of the most advanced robots ever built in an academic setting.
The researchers plan to enter ARTEMIS in RoboCup, a global competition that pits autonomous robots against each other in soccer matches. But their long-term goal is even more ambitious: they envision ARTEMIS playing in the FIFA World Cup by 2050. While the development of ARTEMIS is still in its early stages, the idea of robots playing in the World Cup is no longer confined to science fiction.
Meanwhile, Messi has not confirmed whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup. In a recent interview, he mentioned that he is focused on finishing the current season well before making any decisions regarding his participation in the next World Cup.
