‘You stole the Golden Ball award from me’ – Mikel Obi recalls conversation he had with Lionel Messi after 2005 U-20 World Cup

‘You stole the Golden Ball award from me’ – Mikel Obi recalls conversation he had with Lionel Messi after 2005 U-20 World Cup

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi has shared the conversation he had with Argentina football icon, Lionel Messi after the medal ceremony at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup.


Argentina defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the competition almost 20 years ago but Mikel, who was awarded the Silver Ball Award, says he deserved the Golden Ball Award ahead of Messi who won it.

“When we lost against Argentina in the U-20 World Cup, Messi won the Golden Ball and I won the Silver Ball,” Mikel told The Obi One Podcast that

“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.’

Idowu Babalola Photo
Idowu Babalola

Socially Not Social. IG & Twitter - @Idbragga

All author posts
Related Posts
I am not poor – Ex-Arsenal defender, Emmanuel Eboue
I am not poor – Ex-Arsenal defender, Emmanu...

Former Arsenal defender, Emmanuel Eboue, has dismissed talk of suffering in poverty after his divorce. In 2017, the Ivorian...

My first experience of a Nigerian artist taking over the world is D’banj – Davido
My first experience of a Nigerian artist taki...

Davido talks about being inspired byD’banj’s superstar status. Davido is taking African music to the global stage through his...

“I didn’t know I was pregnant till after 5 months”, Wizkid’s first baby mama reveals
“I didn’t know I was pregnant till after ...

Wizkid’s first babymama, Shola Ogudu has opened up on her pregnancy experience. Shola revealed that she did not have...

Write A Comments