"Your people are proud of you" – revealed what Lionel Messi said to Vozinha after the match
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The clash between Argentina and Cape Verde in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup was incredibly intense. Despite the emotional tension and fierce battle for a spot in the quarterfinals, Argentina’s leader Lionel Messi still found a moment to show respect to his opponent.
Details: Immediately after the final whistle, he approached Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha.
"I approached him, but before I could say anything, he hugged me and said: 'Wonderful job. You’re a fantastic goalkeeper. Your people should be proud of you.' Hearing this from Leo is truly incredible," Vozinha shared his emotions.
The goalkeeper also mentioned that he asked the Argentine captain for his shirt as a souvenir from this memorable match. Messi smiled and agreed, promising to hand over the jersey in the tunnel area, ending the episode with a genuine show of sportsmanship.
Reminder: The Cape Verde national team goalkeeper became a legend at the 2026 World Cup.
