Cape Verde goalkeeper, Vozinha, has revealed the words of encouragement he received from Argentina captain Lionel Messi after their World Cup Round of 32 clash on Saturday.
Vozinha produced an impressive performance at the Miami Stadium, making several important saves, but Cape Verde’s historic World Cup campaign ended in a 3-2 extra-time defeat to the defending champions.
Speaking after the match, Vozinha said Messi praised his display and encouraged him to take pride in representing Cape Verde.
“I went up to Messi after the game. He hugged me and said, ‘You are great. Your people should be proud of you.’ That was incredible for me,” Vozinha said, according to Hindustan Times.
The 40-year-old added that the exchange was one of the most memorable moments of his career.
“Hearing words like that from someone like Leo Messi means a lot to me. I thanked him and said, ‘Thank you, Leo. You are the best.’ Then I asked if we could swap shirts. Leo said he would give it to me in the tunnel after the interviews.”
Although Cape Verde were eliminated, the tournament marked a significant milestone for the island nation, whose spirited performances earned widespread praise before their narrow defeat to Argentina.
