Guinness World Record holder reflects on his record-breaking journey, Chelsea loyalty, admiration for Lionel Messi and predicts a thrilling World Cup final
Nigerian magician and Guinness World Record holder Ibitoye Kingfahd, popularly known as FaddotheGreat, has predicted a dramatic 3-2 victory for Argentina over Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, while reflecting on the determination that powered his own record-breaking achievement and his enduring passion for football.
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Speaking in an exclusive interview, the entertainer described the tournament as one of the most exciting in recent years, praising its unpredictability while expressing disappointment that more African teams failed to progress into the latter stages.
Sharing his expectations for the final, FaddotheGreat insisted that his forecast was based purely on football instincts rather than his profession as a magician.
“First, I want to make it clear that I am not claiming to have supernatural powers. So, people should not say, ‘He is a magician, so he must know the result.’
This is simply my prediction as a football fan. I think Argentina will win 3-2. I expect it to be an electric game, similar to the kind of thrilling World Cup final we saw in the previous edition,” he said.
The FaddotheGreat World Cup prediction came alongside glowing praise for the competition, which he believes has produced several memorable moments.
He singled out Cape Verde’s spirited campaign as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, noting that the team came close to eliminating Argentina and demonstrated remarkable unity throughout the competition.
While applauding those performances, he lamented the fortunes of African representatives, observing that although nine of the continent’s 10 teams reached the Round of 32, only two advanced to the Round of 16.
Beyond the World Cup, the magician revealed that football has always played a significant role in his life.
He disclosed that he represented his university football team and also trained at a football academy, where he played as a right-back and left-back.
“I played as a number two and number three, so my nickname at the academy was ‘Best 2’. We eventually shortened it to B2,” he recalled.
Although he never planned to become a professional footballer, he said the experience nurtured his love for teamwork and competition.
He also revealed that he played table tennis and had hoped to represent Adeleke University in a national university championship before circumstances prevented the event.
His football loyalties remain firmly with Chelsea, while his admiration for Lionel Messi is unwavering.
Asked to name the greatest footballer of all time, he replied simply, “Yes, Messi is my GOAT.”
He added that if given the opportunity to perform magic for any footballer, Messi would be his first choice because elite players often react to magic with genuine childlike wonder.
“A lot of football stars are actually big fans of magic. It’s not something you come across every day, so when you have the opportunity to perform for them, you see them become like children again,” he said.
Away from football, FaddotheGreat described himself as a passionate follower of global sporting events, including the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships.
He also encouraged greater investment in emerging sports across Nigeria, arguing that disciplines such as equestrian sports have significant potential if properly developed.
“Horse racing and equestrian sports have a lot of potential in Nigeria. There are many sports with the potential to grow in Nigeria if we invest in them and give athletes the necessary support,” he said.
Reflecting on the remarkable journey that earned him a Guinness World Record, FaddotheGreat recalled that the toughest period came after surpassing 30 hours of continuous performance, when the remaining challenge appeared almost impossible.
“The most difficult moment came after I had gone beyond 30 hours and still had another 20 hours to complete. At that point, you start feeling like one more hour should be enough,” he said.
He credited his support team with keeping him focused until he completed the full 50-hour feat.
According to him, becoming a Guinness World Record holder transformed his career, not because of automatic financial rewards but because it changed public perception of magic as a professional art form in Nigeria.
“I wanted to make a major global impact on the way entertainment is viewed in Nigeria.
Before the record, people were aware that there were magicians in Nigeria, but having a Nigerian magician hold a world record helped to solidify the fact that we can excel in every aspect of entertainment,” he said.
FaddotheGreat also revealed that he approached his career transition strategically, building a successful entertainment business before leaving paid employment.
By the time he committed to magic full-time, he said his earnings from performances had already exceeded his previous salary several times over, making it easier for his family to support his decision.
Looking ahead, he said performing at either the FIFA World Cup or the Olympic Games would represent the pinnacle of his career, describing both events as ideal stages to showcase magic before a global audience.
He also pledged to support any future children who choose careers in sport, saying he would do everything within his means to help them realise their ambitions.
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His journey from university football pitches to the Guinness World Records reflects an unconventional path built on persistence, careful planning and a willingness to pursue an uncommon dream, qualities he believes young Nigerians can embrace as they chase their own aspirations.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
