Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has revealed an emotional post-match interaction with Argentina captain Lionel Messi following their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash in Miami. The veteran shot-stopper, speaking after the match, recounted the encounter that left a lasting impression on him, as reported by La Tercera and quoted by Goal.com.
Messi's Words of Encouragement
Vozinha said Messi approached him after the game and offered words of praise. '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. Hearing words like that from someone like Leo Messi means a lot to me,' Vozinha stated. The Cabo Verde goalkeeper also requested Messi's shirt as a keepsake, and the Argentina captain agreed to exchange jerseys after his media duties. '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 tunnels after the interview,' Vozinha added.
The Match: A Thrilling Encounter
Cabo Verde, making their first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockout stages, started brightly and tested Argentina early through Ryan Mendes. However, Argentina gradually asserted control. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Messi produced a moment of brilliance, controlling Lisandro Martinez's diagonal pass before firing into the roof of the net. That goal was Messi's seventh of the tournament, moving him to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Argentina looked comfortable before halftime, but Cabo Verde returned with renewed intensity after the break. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Mendes released Deroy Duarte, who finished confidently from a tight angle to score his country's first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout-stage goal and level the contest. Despite creating several chances, Argentina were repeatedly denied by Vozinha, whose outstanding saves from Messi kept the scores level and forced the match into extra time.
Extra Time Drama
Argentina restored their advantage almost immediately after extra time began as Lisandro Martinez converted from close range following a corner in the 92nd minute. Yet Cabo Verde refused to back down, with Sidny Lopes Cabral producing a stunning curling effort in the 103rd minute from a tight angle to make it 2-2 once again. The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time when Messi's corner was met by Cristian Romero, whose powerful header took a slight deflection off Diney Borges before finding the back of the net in the 111th minute. Cabo Verde nearly forced penalties late on, but Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a vital save to deny Lopes Cabral's powerful free-kick and secure Argentina's progress.
Aftermath and Impact
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16, while Cabo Verde exit the tournament after earning widespread praise for their debut World Cup campaign. Vozinha's performance and the emotional exchange with Messi highlighted the spirit of the Cabo Verde team, which earned respect from fans and players alike.
