John Obi Mikel: When we lost to 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: “It has nothing to do with me. The committee chooses.”
We went out and I found him again near the dressing room. He said to me: “Take the Golden Ball and give me the Silver Ball if you want.” I replied: “I can’t, you deserve it, I was just angry, thank you.”
We met again at the 2018 World Cup. He said to me: “Hello, golden boy. I still have the photo we took together at the coronation.” I smiled and said to him: “During that period and until now, you have convinced me that you really deserve it. You are the best in the world, Leo.”