Super Eagles skipper Obi Mikel shunned Barcelona's Argentine forward, Lionel Messi, in his votes for The Best FIFA Football Player award, picking eventual winner Cristiano Ronaldo instead.
The 29-year-old, who voted in his capacity as captain of Nigeria national team, voted Frenchman Antoine Griezmann and German keeper, Manuel Neuer, in second and third place respectively, leaving Messi out altogether.
In 2005, Mikel and Messi were touted as promising players after excellent performances at the FIFA World Youth Championships held in the Netherlands. Nigeria lost 2-1 to Argentina at the tournament.
Obi won the Silver Ball after being voted the tournament's second-best player behind Messi.
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