- Friendly Accusation: Mikel Obi has shared a humorous interaction with Lionel Messi regarding the 2005 U-20 World Cup awards, where he playfully accused Messi of “stealing” the Golden Ball.
- Award Ceremony: Mikel, who won the Silver Ball Award, believed he deserved the Golden Ball over Messi, who was named the tournament’s best player.
- Messi’s Response: During the medal ceremony, Messi responded with a smile, clarifying that the decision was made by the committee, not him.
- Podcast Revelation: Mikel recounted the amusing exchange on “The Obi One Podcast,” reflecting on their encounter almost two decades after the tournament.
Former Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has revisited a moment with Argentina’s football legend Lionel Messi from the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
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The tournament, which saw Argentina edge out Nigeria 2-1 in the final, was also notable for the individual accolades awarded.
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Mikel, who was awarded the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player, humorously claimed he should have won the Golden Ball instead of Messi.
During “The Obi One Podcast,” Mikel recounted the playful exchange he had with Messi after the medal ceremony.
“When we lost against Argentina in the U-20 World Cup, Messi won the Golden Ball and I won the Silver Ball,” Mikel shared. “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, known for his humble demeanor, responded with a smile and said, “I have nothing to do with the matter, the Committee is the one who chooses.”
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