07/05/2026
๐ณ๐ฌ๐ฃ๏ธ John Obi Mikel: "I will never forget what happened after the U-20 World Cup final against Argentina. Messi won the Golden Ball, and I won the Silver Ball, but I felt I deserved the Golden Ball. I approached him and said in Spanish, 'You stole the Golden Ball from me. I was better.'
Messi, with his characteristic humility, smiled and replied, 'It wasnโt my decision; it was the committeeโs. But what youโve done for your country is incredible.' Later, when we crossed paths near the locker rooms, he offered to swap awards: 'If you want, take my Golden Ball and give me the Silver.' I laughed and said, 'I canโt; you deserve it. I was just frustrated. Thank you for being so kind.'
Years later, we met again at the 2018 World Cup. Messi greeted me, 'Hello, golden boy. I still have the photo from the awards ceremony.' Thatโs when I told him, 'Today I know you truly deserved that award. You are the best, Leo."
๐ณ๐ฌ๐ฃ๏ธ John Obi Mikel: "I will never forget what happened after the U-20 World Cup final against Argentina. Messi won the Golden Ball, and I won the Silver Ball, but I felt I deserved the Golden Ball. I approached him and said in Spanish, 'You stole the Golden Ball from me. I was better.'
