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 publicly.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 recognises familiar MLS rival
Messi and Moreira were far from strangers by the time they met at the World Cup.Since Messi’s move to Inter Miami in 2023, the pair have faced each other regularly in Major League Soccer, where Moreira plays for Columbus Crew.The 31-year-old defender, who was born and raised in France before opting to represent Cape Verde internationally in 2023, was part of the nation’s historic first-ever World Cup campaign.Speaking to former United States international Sacha Kljestan on Apple TV, Major League Soccer’s official broadcast partner, Moreira admitted teammates had wondered whether Messi would even recognise him before the match.“Yes, yes. Especially before the match, everyone was saying to me, ‘Do you think Messi knows you?'”“So I would reply, ‘Yes, of course. We play against each other every time [in MLS].'”According to Moreira, Messi then approached him before kick-off with an unexpected greeting.“Then Messi came up to me and said, ‘Hi, how are you? Congratulations on everything.’ And he said it in English, so I was a little surprised.”Although Messi has spent the last several years playing in the United States, he rarely speaks English publicly, making the brief exchange all the more memorable for the Cape Verde defender.
Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way
The meeting 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, twice came from behind before eventually losing 3-2 after extra time as Argentina narrowly progressed to the last 16 on their way to reaching the World Cup final.Moreira played all 120 minutes against the reigning world champions, continuing an ever-present tournament in which 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 was amazing,” Moreira said.“We did a lot in the game so I’m very, very proud.”
Historic tournament for Cape Verde
Although their World Cup journey ended against Argentina, Cape Verde emerged as one of the surprise stories of the tournament.Competing in the World Cup for the first time in the nation’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 opening 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 the tournament transformed perceptions of football in his country.“It put my country on top of the world. It’s something I will never forget. I’m very proud.”The defender’s performances were central to Cape Verde’s impressive run, while veteran goalkeeper Vozinha also attracted significant attention after a series of outstanding displays throughout the competition.Following the tournament, reports have 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.Having come through the French football system and represented 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 accepting 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 prevailed after extra time, Cape Verde’s spirited display earned widespread admiration, while Moreira left the tournament with a personal memory few opponents can claim—a congratulatory greeting from Lionel Messi delivered in unexpected English before one of the biggest matches of his career.
