National Teams
John Obi Mikel shares conversation with Messi after 2005 U20 World Cup final
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria legend, John Obi Mikel has disclosed what he told Lionel Messi after the final of the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup which Nigeria lost to Argentina.
Messi scored twice to lead the Argentinas to a 2-1 victory over the Flying Eagles and the former Barcelona forward went on to win the Golden Ball, while Mikel won the Silver Ball and Taiye Taiwo was awarded the Bronze Ball.
Mikel said he jokingly told Messi that he wasn’t deserving of the best player tag and that he stole it from him.
Messi, however replied that the selection was done by a committee which he has no power on.
“When we lost against Argentina in the U-20 World Cup, Messi won the Golden Ball and I won the Silver Ball,” Mikel was quoted by the Obi One Podcast.
“At the end of the coronation, I told him, ‘You stole the Golden Ball from me. I deserved it, I was better than you.’
“Messi smiled and said to me, ‘I have nothing to do with the matter, the committee is the one who chooses’.”
Mikel would go on to have a glorious career by winning multiple trophies with Chelsea.
