Lionel Messi praised the skill of Cape Verde's Vozinha

Despite being eliminated from the World Cup after a valiant effort against Argentina, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha left a lasting impression on football superstar Lionel Messi. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Following the dramatic Round of 16 match, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner praised the Cape Verdean shot-stopper’s performance. According to Goal.com, the Cape Verdeans posed serious problems for the reigning world champions during the game.

Although Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 79th minute with his 20th World Cup goal, the underdogs managed to equalize twice. Only a third goal, scored in the 101st minute of extra time, ended Cape Verde’s hopes of advancing further in the tournament.

After the match, Vozinha and Lionel Messi shared a heartfelt exchange. The goalkeeper revealed that the Argentine legend did not hide his admiration for his performance.

Vozinha emphasized that Messi told him he should be proud of his efforts and that these moments would be unforgettable for him. Beyond kind words, Vozinha also walked away with a valuable keepsake from the encounter.

When he asked Messi for his jersey, the Argentina captain promised to hand it over in the dressing room—and kept his word. Cape Verde’s success in this tournament was no fluke.

In the group stage, they had eliminated strong sides like Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to advance to the next round. Vozinha, meanwhile, made a total of 18 saves across four matches, stopping nearly 70% of the shots on target.

He proudly recalled holding his own against the reigning world champions and even having chances to win the game. Such performances by smaller teams against football giants have always fascinated fans, including in Uzbekistan.

Cape Verde’s bravery and Messi’s humility once again proved how vital mutual respect is in the world of sport. Moments like these remind us that football is not just about results—it’s also about human connection.