Messi Jests About Cape Verde's On-Pitch Physicality After World Cup Win

Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, humorously reflected on the robust challenges he faced from the Cape Verde national team during their 2026 FIFA World Cup encounter. He noted the striking contrast between their aggressive play during the game and their requests for his jersey and photos once the final whistle blew.

Messi's comments came after Argentina's national football team narrowly defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in their World Cup Round of 16 match held in Miami on Friday, July 3. Following the intense fixture, several Cape Verdean players approached the Argentina captain, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, to ask for his shirt and capture selfies, requests which he graciously fulfilled.

Reflecting on the match, the 38-year-old superstar found amusement in the stark difference between the game's intensity and the post-match camaraderie. According to TyC Sports, Messi quipped, “They asked for my jersey, everything… On the field, they kick the crap out of me.”

Messi also credited his team's focus on set-pieces as a crucial factor in securing their victory, an area they had been diligently working on following recent performances. He stated, “We’ve been working on it for a while, both offensively and defensively. In a competition like this, it’s important.”

Despite advancing to the quarter-finals, Messi acknowledged that Argentina's overall performance was not flawless, admitting that the team lost control after initially taking the lead. He observed, “We lost possession, we sat back, we couldn’t press effectively.”

Argentina's triumph sets up a quarter-final showdown against the Egypt national football team, who secured their spot by overcoming the Australia national football team in a penalty shootout. In a personal milestone during the game, Messi also netted his 20th career goal in the World Cup.