Indian police said on Monday a man has been charged with murdering his friend after a heated argument over whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's best soccer player.

They said the Nigerian national fatally stabbed a compatriot after they argued over whether the Barcelona star or the Real Madrid forward was better.

Police inspector Kiran Kabadi said Michael Chukwuma, 21, was charged with murder in the death of 34-year-old Obina Durumchukwu on Sunday in the northern Mumbai suburb of Nallasopara.