After our loss to Argentina in the 2005 U-20 World Cup final—he took the Golden Ball, I took the Silver—I walked up to him and said, ‘You stole the Golden Ball from me. I deserved it. I was better.’ Messi smiled and replied, ‘It’s not my decision — the committee decides.’ Later, near the locker room, he even offered: ‘If you like, you can take my Golden Ball and I’ll take the Silver.’ I laughed and said, ‘I can’t — you deserve it. I was just frustrated. Thank you.’ Then at the 2018 World Cup we met again. He greeted me, ‘Hello, Golden Boy — I still have that photo of us together.’ I told him: ‘Now I know you truly deserved it. You are the best, Leo.’” Beloud