A teenage John Obi Mikel was SPECIAL! 

Arguably the best team Nigeria ever produced in under-20 level. Samson Siasia will for ever be remembered for putting together this team.

Mikel played like Zidane. I wish he wasn't converted to a defensive midfielder. Too much talent.

This is a complete Nigeria game. The guy,Adefemi,is the man who work hard on Messi. He know how to stop him. Unfortunately,he died in a motor accident on his way to National call up.

What a baller. I cried on this day. July 2, 2005. It was my birthday.

Mikel Obi was outstanding that we all thought would continue in rhs siper eagles intil jose Mourinho turned jim to a defensive midfielder.

I remember this tournament vividly in 2005: the most memorable players I can still recall at a drop of a hat without goggling it are: Messi of Argentina Mikel Obi & Taiwo of Nigeria Emmanuelson with dreds & Babel of Netherlands/HOL

I remembered watching this game and seeing Nigeria conceding a penalty and Taiwo complaining to the referee bitterly was so hurting.

He played so much like Kanu.

We need to bring Siasia back and give him all the time and tools he will need to build HIS OWN TEAM. The man might have his faults, but his eye for spotting exciting talents remains undeniable. Siasia teams always played very exciting brands of football.

This guy was really good.Omo I don't just know what to say

That was Nigeria Zinedine Zidane, altered by maurinho, if only mikel had stayed with united under fergie, the world would have seen the best of his talent,

Really really good performance

Oh, Mikel was special. I wish Fergie or Wenger got hold of him instead of Chelsea. Yes, he went on to win multiple trophies with Chelsea, but he was never the same player again. Mourinho tried to turn him into a Makelele. In modern day football, Mikel's role as a 6 would have been beautiful to watch!

That kick on Mikel, a penalty if he had gone down.

I had a feeling that Nigeria was robbed on that day. Nigeria's defenders in particular were bigger in size than the Argentina forward players so any tackle in the 18 yard box was always going to go in favour of Argentina. Seems like the Coach for Argentina knew this and instructed his players to fall to the ground at any slight touch. Argentina has been known for simulation (deception) over the years. Unfortunately, a lot of Referees have fallen for such tricks many times in the past. It's a good thing that VAR is now available even though it's not perfect. Many times in the past there won't be any contact yet a foul will be given and if it's in the 18 yard box, a penalty. A lot of players were good at falling down back then while pretending to be badly hit.

Old age chai Mikel was agba baller

Ooh Mikel what a talent too bad he didn't develop it further and rest in peace ✌️ Isaac promise

The only offense Mourinho committed against Africa

Mourinho ruined his game. A natural AM turned into a DM.

Very humble as well ❤

5:25 Did Mikel really do that to Messi?

Mourinho collected his brain and replaced it with power

Mourinho and his team finished Mikel that was supposed to be a Balloon d or winner, I do not understand the reason some of these Oyinbos coaches do not respect young African talents. Mikel was a natural playmaker but was converted into a defender, I am not sure that he was able to achieve more than 40% of his potential playing as a defender. The least he would have done was to loan him out if he felt he had better players instead of subjecting him to such a humiliation and torture. I can't imagine the crises in his mind during those periods. They also use the media to subject him to various psychological torture during the prolong tussle between Man United and Chelsea over him.

Mikel was really on course to become a better version of Okocha until a certain Portuguese coach called him, dont ask me who

This is Nigerian brand of football. I would rather we lose matches pkaying this way than win playing like Peseiro

It was morinno that killed his career. Those of you that like Morinno

Mourinho porto 2004 and Mikel 2005 made to join Chelsea

This is nr 10. Iwobi doesn't understand the role

Na kai b d only tin wey fit ds oooo

Chelsea killed his career

Mikel actually play dip as the second holding fielder in all those game. which give him ability to find a long passes or dribble follow then give a tru pass. HE DID NOT PLAY IN A 10 POSITION TROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT.

Robbery, it's like watching Barcelona vs Chelsea 2008💔

We had chances and didn’t take them. Our attackers where too raw and in a rush without thinking quick. We had what it took to win that game despite the penalties awarded to Argentina.

But no doubt Mikel was superb, controlling the midfield and playing box to box with full energy. Anyway we were robber in the game. That day was the first and the last time i cry over football. watching the highlight you will see how Mikel was foul in the box 2x by 2 different play at the same time but fail to go down cos he knew if he go down they will not blow a penalty for him. and dat was just one of many foul penalty they committed against us and choose not to go down. but the Argentina are free to go down to receive two penalty in a final. what a shame of football

We gave Mourinho raw to build and he gave us a rigid and back passer Mikel Obi. Mourinho messed up on this one.

The match whEre Argentina were five two penalties not worth a penalty . Fifa already had fheir pick on who rhwy wanted to win the u20 world championship .

Mourinho actually did the right thing, Mikel is strong, but not quick with the foot, as such was best a defensive midfielder, all other managers saw this fact. The uninitiated without technical savvy would not know.

Kai is all I can say

I feel mikel should not have gone to chelsea 😢😢😢😢

Going to chelsea did not allow him to maximise his potential. He & his advisers followed the money. No way he was doing to take Lampard's position. Lampard was second best player in the world when Ronaldinho won the ballodor in 2006. Highest scoring midfielder in the history of the premier league with 177 and 102 assists. Not Mourinho fault nor Chelsea's.

MIKEL NEVER PLAY #10 IN 2005 JR WORLD CUP FOR NIGERIA! we played 4-2-2-2 in this game. Taiwo, james, dele adeleye, and adefemi are the 4 DEFENDERS. mikel and kaita are the 2 HOLDING MIDFIELDERS. owoeri and abwo are the 2 WINGERS. while issac promise played behind chinedu ogbuke obasi in front. so therefore issac was the number 10

José Mourinho destroyed John Obi Michael, FIFA, UEFA and the Premier League also played their roles against him. Their plan was to fabricate Lionel Messi, and they succeeded. They openly stole Nigeria's victory and freely gave it to Argentina, that's why I can never value Lionel Messi till the end of time.

This is why we need to bring Sia sis back, I don’t understand. Boss is rubbish. We need Siasia, let’s pardon him. I’m he has finished serving his sentence

Mikel would have won footballer of the year like Messi. Mikel chose the wrong club and coach. Why turn a player like this into a defender....

Mikel no Sabi ball at all..

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