Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed that there is a ‘respect forever’ between himself and Nigeria’s captain John Mikel Obi but they don’t talk.
Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel have faced each other at least 10 times for both club and country and the Barcelona superstar who received a nod from the former Chelsea star during the 2017 Best FIFA Football Awards voting reveals the mutual respect between them.
“We played many times against each other but never talked. Simply a greeting and respect forever,” said Messi to TyCSports.
Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel first played against one another at the 2005 World Youth Championship in Holland where the Argentine superstar was named the best player of the tournament and Mikel named the second best player.
Both players have been a part of the fierce rivalry between Chelsea and Barcelona, with Mikel Obi ending on the winning side the last time they both faced in 2012.
Lionel Messi and Mikel Obi will be leading their teams when they both lock horns on the June 26th, 2018 at the Krestovsky Stadium for the 5th matchup between The Super Eagles of Nigeria and La Albiceleste in World Cup competitions.
