Lionel Messi left one of his World Cup opponents pleasantly surprised after greeting him in English before Argentina’s knockout match against Cape Verde, despite rarely speaking the language in public.Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira revealed the interaction after the tournament, recalling how the Argentina captain approached him before their Round of 32 meeting and congratulated him on reaching the World Cup in a language he never expected to hear from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Messi acknowledges familiar MLS rival
Messi and Moreira were far from strangers when they met at the World Cup.Since Messi’s move to Inter Miami in 2023, the pair have regularly faced each other in Major League Soccer, where Moreira plays for the Columbus Crew.The 31-year-old defender, who was born and raised in France before being selected to represent Cape Verde internationally in 2023, was part of the country’s historic first World Cup campaign.Speaking to former United States international Sacha Kljestan on Apple TV, the official broadcast partner of Major League Soccer, Moreira admitted that teammates wondered if Messi would recognize him before the match.“Yes, yes. Especially before the match, everyone said to me, ‘Do you think you know Messi?'”“So I answer, ‘Yes, of course. We play each other every time.’ [in MLS].'”According to Moreira, Messi approached him before the unexpected greeting began.“Then Messi came up to me and said, ‘Hi, how are you? Congratulations to everyone.’ And he said it in English, so I was surprised.”Although Messi has spent the last few years playing in the United States, he rarely speaks English in public, making the brief exchange all the more memorable for the Cape Verdean defender.
Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way
The encounter between Argentina and Cape Verde proved to be one of the most entertaining knockout matches of the tournament.Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, came from behind twice before eventually losing 3-2 after extra time while Argentina progressed sharply to the last 16 on their way to the World Cup final.Moreira played all 120 minutes against the reigning world champions, continuing an ever-present tournament where he featured every minute of Cape Verde’s campaign.
Cape Verde’s Steven Moreira (22) controls the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Reflecting on the occasion, he described the experience as unforgettable.“Honestly, it’s amazing,” Moreira said.“We did a lot in the game so I’m very proud.”
Historic tournament for Cape Verde
Although their World Cup journey ended against Argentina, Cape Verde emerged as one of the tournament’s standout stories.Competing in the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history, the Blue Sharks opened their campaign with a shock 0-0 draw against eventual champions Spain before also drawing with Uruguay to advance from the group stage.Those results earned widespread praise, with the draw against Spain becoming one of the standout moments of the first round of fixtures.
Cape Verde’s Steven Moreira, right, heads the ball as Spain’s Gavi looks on during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Moreira believes that the tournament has changed the perception of football in his country.“It put my country on top of the world. It’s something I’ll never forget. I’m very proud.”The defender’s performances have been central to Cape Verde’s impressive run, while veteran goalkeeper Vozinha has also attracted a lot of attention after a string of outstanding performances throughout the competition.After the tournament, reports linked the vice-captain with a move to Chilean giants Colo Colo after leaving Portuguese club Chaves.
Moreira’s international journey
Moreira’s path to the World Cup was unconventional.Arriving in the French football system and representing clubs including Rennes, Lorient and Toulouse before moving to Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, he did not make his international debut for Cape Verde until receiving his first call-up in 2023.That decision ultimately led to him becoming one of the key figures in the country’s first appearance on football’s biggest stage.Although Argentina eventually won after extra time, the spirited performance in Cape Verde drew widespread praise, while Moreira left the tournament with a personal memory that few opponents could claim — a congratulatory greeting from Lionel Messi given by the unexpected Englishman before one of the biggest matches of his career.