Nigeria takes on Argentina on Tuesday in a final Group D game of the World cup in Russia. Ahead of the clash, Nigeria Super Eagles captain Mikel granted an interview with The Guardian and he claimed that the Argentine captain ‘Stole’ the most valuable player at the 2005 U-20 world cup in the Netherlands.

John Mikel Obi’s performance in the tournament earned him a transfer to one of the biggest club in Europe, but eventually, they lost in the final 2-1 courtesy of two penalties from Lionel Messi.

13-years later Mikel is still reminiscing on the fact that the award was meant for him but Messi stole the show in the finals. “Yeah, Messi stole the Golden Ball off me,” Mikel said. “Before the game people said that I was going to win the Golden Ball for being the player of the tournament. “But then Messi scored twice, both of them penalties, Argentina won 2-1 and I got the Silver Ball. Messi has kept on stealing awards from me!”

Mikel also recalled on how Super Eagles were able to beat La Albecieste 4-2 in last year’s December friendly without Messi, reiterating the fact that the two-time world champions always play badly with the Barcelona forward. “A certain human being wasn’t playing (in last year’s friendly),” Mikel says.

“Actually, is he even a human being? Messi is Messi. He decides games and the last time we met he scored two against us at the Brazil World Cup. “Without him, they are definitely less of a team. We can’t put all our attention on Messi but he is the man that we need to stop. Do we have to put somebody to mark him? Maybe yes, maybe no because when you do that you are playing with less balance.”

The former Chelsea midfielder also points out the situation of switching position when he is on international duties. “I was playing as a No 10 before I went to Chelsea but José Mourinho converted me to a holding player,” Mikel told The Guardian. “I enjoy it. When I was at Chelsea and there was a national team break, I’d go there and I’d enjoy it. I’d have this one or two weeks of freedom – to express myself and play the way I want. But at Chelsea, I did a job.”

And on the Super Eagles being drawn against Argentina again at the World Cup, Mikel said: “We knew we would get them. I said to a friend of mine: ‘Trust me, Argentina is going to be in the same group as us.’ It’s crazy. I don’t know why but it keeps happening.”

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