Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has humorously claimed that Lionel Messi “stole” the Golden Ball award from him at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The two football stars faced each other in the final, where Argentina emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
The tournament, held in the Netherlands from June 10 to July 2, 2005, saw Messi finish as the top scorer with six goals, earning him the Golden Ball. Mikel, who delivered a standout performance, was awarded the Silver Ball.
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In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Obi One Podcast,” Mikel shared a lighthearted moment from his interaction with Messi following the tournament. “When we lost against Argentina in the U-20 World Cup, Messi won the Golden Ball and I won the Silver Ball,” Mikel recounted. “At the end of the ceremony, I told him, ‘You stole the Golden Ball from me. I deserved it, I was better than you.’”
Messi reportedly responded with a smile, saying, “I have nothing to do with the matter; the Committee is the one who chooses.”
Both players went on to achieve remarkable careers. Messi enjoyed a legendary spell at FC Barcelona, while Mikel had a successful tenure with Chelsea, amassing numerous trophies and accolades.
