Ex-Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has asserted that allegations of FIFA bias toward Lionel Messi and Argentina regarding the 2026 World Cup originate from supporters of Cristiano Ronaldo. Mikel Obi addressed these rumors during an appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast.
His remarks followed a discussion with former Chelsea colleague Joe Cole. While analyzing the lead-up to an England versus Argentina semi-final match, Cole suggested that the global audience prefers to see Messi reach the final, noting that the Albiceleste might resort to questionable tactics to secure a victory.
Defending the reigning champions, Mikel Obi argued that Argentina earned their position by finishing at the top of their group. He stated that the team simply performed well to secure a more favorable path in the tournament bracket. He emphasized that the notion of institutional favoritism from FIFA is a narrative pushed by Ronaldo’s fanbase, which he finds disagreeable.
