Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has rejected claims that FIFA is favouring Lionel Messi and Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mikel made the comments during an appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast while discussing Argentina’s semi-final clash against England.
The debate started after former England midfielder Joe Cole suggested that many football fans wanted Messi to reach the World Cup final because of his global popularity. Cole, however, clarified that he was not accusing FIFA of influencing results.
Mikel disagreed with the suggestion and said Argentina’s progress came from their performances on the pitch.
Mikel Obi Rejects Messi FIFA Favouritism Claims
Obi dismissed conspiracy theories suggesting that FIFA had helped Argentina advance at the World Cup.
The former Chelsea midfielder said the claims were being pushed by Cristiano Ronaldo supporters who wanted to create controversy around Messi’s success.
“I’m not buying into that,” Mikel said.
He explained that Argentina earned their tournament position by winning their matches and securing a favourable route through the competition.
“If they won their games, which they should have done, they would not play tougher teams. Argentina did their job, they won their games, and they got into the easier group,” he added.
Joe Cole Discusses Messi’s World Cup Appeal
Joe Cole’s comments sparked the discussion after he suggested that many fans around the world wanted Messi to reach another World Cup final.
“I think the whole world wants Lionel Messi in the final,” Cole said.
The former England midfielder also discussed Argentina’s aggressive style of play and warned that England would face a difficult challenge against the defending champions.
Cole later made it clear that he was not alleging any form of unfair treatment from FIFA.
“I’m not saying there’s anything, any skulduggery at all, from FIFA; the vibes of the world want Argentina to get there because they want Messi to get there,” he said.
Mikel Obi Praises Messi’s Performance At 2026 World Cup
Despite rejecting the conspiracy claims, Mikel Obi praised Messi’s performances throughout the tournament.
The former Nigeria midfielder said Messi had continued to deliver goals, records, and important contributions for Argentina.
“Messi is doing his job. He’s playing, he’s scoring goals, and he’s breaking records,” Mikel said.
Argentina entered the semi-final stage as defending champions after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
England Face Argentina In World Cup Semi-Final
Argentina faced England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final as they aimed to continue their title defence.
The winner of the match was set to meet Spain in the final after Spain defeated France 2-0 in the other semi-final.
