Lionel Messi has joked about the physical treatment he received from Cape Verde national football team during 2026 FIFA World Cup action, saying his opponents were quick to challenge him on the pitch before asking for his shirt and photographs after the match.
Messi made the remarks after Argentina national football team edged Cape Verde 3-2 in their World Cup Round of 16 clash in Miami on Friday, July 3. Following the final whistle, several Cape Verde players stayed behind to request the Argentina captain’s shirt and take selfies with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who obliged.
Reflecting on the encounter, Messi laughed off the contrast between the intensity of the match and the post-match interactions. “They asked for my jersey, everything… On the field, they kick the crap out of me,” Messi said, according to TyC Sports.
The 38-year-old also credited Argentina’s work on set-pieces for helping secure the victory, saying the team had focused on improving in that area after recent struggles. “We’ve been working on it for a while, both offensively and defensively. In a competition like this, it’s important.”
Despite progressing to the quarter-finals, Messi acknowledged that Argentina’s performance was far from perfect, saying the team lost control of the game after taking the lead. “We lost possession, we sat back, we couldn’t press effectively.”
Argentina’s victory set up a quarter-final clash with Egypt national football team, who advanced after defeating Australia national football team in a penalty shootout. Messi also reached a personal milestone in the match, scoring his 20th career World Cup goal.