Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has revealed that Argentina captain Lionel Messi praised his performance following their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash, describing the exchange as one of the most memorable moments of his career.
According to the Nigerian Tribune on Saturday, July 4, 2026, the 40-year-old goalkeeper produced a series of crucial saves at Miami Stadium to keep Cape Verde in contention against the defending champions.
Despite his standout display, Cape Verde’s historic World Cup campaign ended in a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Argentina, who advanced to the Round of 16. The Blue Sharks earned widespread praise for matching the world champions with resilience and discipline throughout the contest.
Reflecting on the encounter, Vozinha said he approached Messi after the final whistle, and the Argentina captain embraced him and commended both his performance and Cape Verde’s achievements at the tournament.
“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.
