Mikel Obi remembers saying to Lionel Messi, following the 2005 U-20 World Cup, “You stole the Golden Ball award from me.”

Former Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has revealed the chat he had following the FIFA U-20 World Cup medal presentation with legendary Argentina football player Lionel Messi.

Nearly 20 years ago, Argentina defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the competition final; however, Mikel, who received the Silver Ball Award, believes he should have received the Golden Ball Award instead of Messi.

“Messi won the Golden Ball and I won the Silver Ball when we lost to Argentina in the U-20 World Cup,” Mikel said on The Obi One Podcast.

I told him, ‘You stole the Golden Ball from me,’ at the conclusion of the coronation. I was superior to you, thus I earned it.

“I have nothing to do with the matter; the Committee makes the decision,” Messi grinned and told me.