John Obi Mikel didn’t hold back in responding to Joe Cole’s comments, which suggested that FIFA favors Argentina in major international competitions. The former Nigerian midfielder firmly rejected this theory, stating it has no concrete basis. For him, Argentina’s results are primarily the result of their performances on the pitch, not any preferential treatment.
The ex-Super Eagles international aimed to put an end to the speculation that often surrounds Argentina’s successes and Lionel Messi. According to him, accusations of favoritism arise after every Argentine victory, but they don’t hold up under objective analysis of the matches. He believes that teams that fail sometimes look for external explanations instead of acknowledging their own shortcomings.
« NO, I won’t swallow that nonsense. It’s all the Ronaldo fans who are making up this crap! If the others had won their matches, which they should have, Argentina would have faced tougher teams. Argentina did their job, they won their matches and they played. FIFA does not favor Messi. Messi does his job: he plays, he scores goals, and he breaks records. »
Through this statement, John Obi Mikel reminds us that every team is responsible for its own journey in a competition. According to him, if some nations didn’t face Argentina earlier or if the draw was favorable, it all comes down to the results on the pitch. The eliminated teams, he says, have only themselves to blame for not winning the matches that could have changed the tournament’s outcome.
The former Chelsea player also emphasizes Lionel Messi’s crucial role in Argentina’s successes. He believes the Argentine captain continues to make a difference with his immense talent, consistency, and effectiveness in front of goal. For John Obi Mikel, the records and performances of the World Cup champion are the result of many years of hard work and exceptional skill, not any privilege granted by football’s governing bodies.
🔴 John Obi Mikel 🇳🇬 responds to Joe Cole 🏴�
