FIFA, Chelsea, Onazi celebrate Mikel On 31st Birthday

World Football governing body, FIFA have joined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to celebrate Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi who turned 31 today.

“🎂 #HBD to Ingrid Vidal (27), @JasperCillessen (29), @mikel_john_obi (31), @KAKA (36), Zoltan Gera (39), @MarkvanBommel6 (41) & Adrian Ilie (44),” FIFA tweeted on Sunday, celebrating Mikel and other football personalities including Brazil legend Kaka,” wrote FIFA on its Twitter handle.

“Happy Birthday @NGSuperEagles captain fantastic. Have a good one Mikel 🎆🎆🎂🎆🎂🎆,” the NFF wrote on their Twitter handle on Sunday.

Also sending birthday wishes through their Twitter handle was former club, Chelsea.

“We also wish former Blue, John Mikel Obi, a very happy birthday today! 🎉”, Chelsea tweeted.

Super Eagles vice captain, Ogenyi Onazi also paid tribute to his captain. “Happy birthday to you skippo, it is indeed a privilege to play with you.  Remain blessed you inspire me a lot. Have fun.

Mikel started his official football career at the age of 12 when he was picked from over 3,000 young talents to play in the Pepsi Football Academy, a team that at the time was well known for travelling across Nigeria scouting young footballers with the potential to play professionally.

He moved to England in 2006 from Norwegian side, Lyn after overcoming a controversial transfer mess that involved Manchester United and Chelsea who both wanted to sign him.

Already guaranteed a shirt for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, except he is injured, Mikel is one of the few players who has represented Nigeria at all the FIFA age grade competitions.

He has won the UEFA champions league and Europa league with English side, Chelsea. and was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 Africa Nations Cup title in South Africa and captained the U-23 side that won bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.