Former Nigerian footballer Mikel Obi recently recounted a conversation he had with Lionel Messi after Nigeria’s loss to Argentina in the 2005 U-20 World Cup final.
Obi shared that he had played exceptionally well throughout the tournament and was hopeful of winning an individual award despite the defeat.
However, when Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, Obi felt disheartened and approached him to express his disappointment.
The former Chelsea star recalled accusing Messi of “stealing” the award, feeling that he was more deserving of the honor.
“When we lost against Argentina in the U-20 World Cup, Messi won the Golden Ball and I won the Silver Ball. 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,’” Obi said in a tweet shared by influencer Vince on X.
Argentina emerged victorious over Nigeria with a 2-1 win in the 2005 U-20 World Cup final, with Lionel Messi netting two penalties and being a key player in the match.
Although Nigeria fell short of claiming the title, their journey to the finals was a source of pride for many Africans.