Mikel : I Was So Close to Getting One Over Messi

John Obi Mikel was convinced Lionel Messi finally had nowhere to go before Argentina dumped Nigeria out of the 2018 World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 win in St Petersburg.

Marcos Rojo was the unlikely hero as Jorge Sampaoli’s embattled side sealed second place in Group D at Nigeria’s expense four minutes from time after Victor Moses had equalised from the penalty spot.

Mikel and Messi first locked horns in 2005, when a pair of penalties from the Barcelona star gave Argentina a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the Under-20 World Cup final.

“I’m sad because I think it was the moment I came so close to getting one,” Mikel told reporters at Krestovsky Stadium.

“It’s not a competition between me and him. I just felt that this time we almost came through and it would have been amazing for us to go through.
“Once again, luck was on his side and he managed to come through again.”