Lionel Messi left one of his World Cup opponents pleasantly surprised after greeting him in English before Argentina’s qualifier 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 recognizes a familiar MLS rival
Messi and Moreira were far from strangers when they met in 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 choosing to represent Cape Verde internationally in 2023, was part of the nation’s historic first world campaign.Speaking to former United States international Sacha Kljestan on Apple TV, Major League Soccer’s official broadcast partner, Moreira admitted his teammates had wondered if Messi had even recognized him before the match.“Yes, yes. Especially before the match, everyone was saying to me: ‘Do you think Messi knows you?’“So I’ll answer, ‘Yes, of course.’ We play against each other every time [in MLS].'”According to Moreira, Messi then approached him before starting with an unexpected greeting.“Then Messi came to me and said, ‘Hello, how are you?’ Congratulations for everything. “And he said it in English, so I was a little surprised.”Although Messi has spent the last few years playing in the United States, he rarely speaks English publicly, making the brief exchange even more memorable for the Cape Verdean defender.
Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way
The meeting between Argentina and Cape Verde was one of the most entertaining knockout matches of the tournament.Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, twice came from behind before losing 3-2 after extra time, as Argentina narrowly progressed 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 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, Florida, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Reflecting on the occasion, I describe 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 journey to the World Cup ended against Argentina, Cape Verde was 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 0-0 shock against eventual champions Spain, before also meeting Uruguay to advance from the group stage.Those results won widespread praise, with the draw against Spain becoming one of the highlights of the first round of matches.
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 transformed 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 were central to Cape Verde’s impressive run, while veteran goalkeeper Vozinha also attracted significant 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.After coming through 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 accepting his first call-up in 2023.This decision ultimately led him to become one of the key figures in the country’s first appearance on the biggest stage of football.Although Argentina eventually prevailed after extra time, the spirited display of Cape Verde won great admiration, while Moreira left the tournament with a personal memory that few opponents can claim – a congratulatory greeting from Lionel Messi in an unexpected English before one of the biggest games of his career.