’Messi made me feel 10 feet tall’ – Cape Verde keeper Vozinha recalls emotional embrace with Argentina legend

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The 37-year-old shot-stopper was the undisputed hero for the African underdogs, producing a string of spectacular saves that kept the world champions at bay for large swathes of the contest. Despite Argentina’s 2-1 victory – secured through second-half set-piece headers – Vozinha’s reflexes and commanding presence in goal turned the match into a far tighter affair than the pre-match predictions had suggested, frustrating the likes of Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez on multiple occasions.

But it was what happened after the final whistle that the Cape Verdean goalkeeper will carry with him for the rest of his life. As the Argentina players celebrated their hard-earned win, Vozinha made a beeline for Lionel Messi, hoping to pay his respects to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

However, before a single word could leave his lips, Messi pulled him into a warm, spontaneous embrace.

“I went over to him and, before I could even say much, he gave me a hug and said, ‘Well done. You’re a very good goalkeeper. Your people should be proud of you,'” Vozinha recounted to reporters in the mixed zone, his voice still carrying the emotion of the moment. “That meant a lot – coming from someone like Leo. Coming from the best in history.”

Visibly moved by the recognition, Vozinha quickly expressed his admiration, thanking Messi for the kind words. But the exchange wasn’t over. Summoning his courage, the Cape Verdean custodian made a request that many players dream of but few dare to ask.

“I thanked him and said, ‘Thanks, Leo. You’re the best.’ Then I asked if I could have his shirt, and he smiled and told me, ‘Of course,'” Vozinha added, a wide grin spreading across his face at the memory. “He just pulled it off and handed it to me. No hesitation. No fuss. Just pure class.”

For Vozinha, who has spent his professional career plying his trade in Portugal and Cape Verde’s domestic leagues, sharing the pitch with Argentina’s galaxy of stars was already a surreal experience. To be singled out for praise by the man himself elevated the night to something almost transcendent.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted – of course, we came here to compete and we believed we could get something – but hearing those words from a player of his caliber makes me incredibly proud of the performance I gave for my country,” Vozinha reflected. “I will cherish that shirt and those words forever. My grandchildren will hear this story.”

Messi, who earlier in the tournament had emphasized the importance of set-pieces and collective resilience, once again demonstrated the leadership and humility that have endeared him to teammates and opponents alike. In a tournament defined by razor-thin margins, his gesture served as a timely reminder that football’s greatest glory often lies not just in victory, but in the respect shared between those who fight for it.

For the Cape Verdean faithful back home, Vozinha’s heroic display – and Messi’s spontaneous tribute – will be remembered as a golden chapter in their country’s debut World Cup story, even if the scoreboard told a different tale.