Miami [US], July 5 (ANI): Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha shared an emotional post-match interaction with Argentina captain Lionel Messi, recalling a heartfelt exchange following their FIFA World Cup encounter that left a lasting impression on him.
Speaking after the match, Vozinha said Messi hugged him and offered words of encouragement that deeply moved him, according to La Tercera, as quoted by Goal.com.
“I went up to Messi after the game. He hugged me and said, ‘You are great. Your people should be proud of you.’ That was incredible for me. Hearing words like that from someone like Leo Messi means a lot to me,” Vozinha said, as quoted by La Tercera.
The Cabo Verde goalkeeper also revealed that he requested Messi’s jersey as a keepsake from the match, adding that the Argentina captain agreed to exchange shirts after completing his post-match media duties.
“I thanked him and said, ‘Thank you, Leo. You are the best.’ Then I asked if we could swap shirts. Leo said he would give it to me in the tunnel after the interview,” Vozinha added.
Cabo Verde, making its first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage, started brightly and tested Argentina early through Ryan Mendes before the South American giants gradually asserted control.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Lionel Messi produced a moment of brilliance, controlling Lisandro Martinez’s diagonal pass before firing into the roof of the net. The strike marked his seventh goal of the tournament, moving him to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Argentina looked comfortable before halftime, but Cabo Verde returned with renewed intensity after the break. Its persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Mendes released Deroy Duarte, who finished confidently from a tight angle to score his country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout-stage goal and level the contest.
Despite creating several chances, Argentina was repeatedly denied by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose outstanding saves, including several against Messi, kept the score level and forced the match into extra time.
Argentina restored its advantage almost immediately after extra time began as Lisandro Martinez converted from close range following a corner in the 92nd minute. Cabo Verde refused to back down, however, with Sidny Lopes Cabral producing a stunning curling effort from a tight angle in the 103rd minute to make it 2-2 once again.
The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time when Messi’s corner was met by Romero, whose powerful header took a slight deflection off Diney Borges before finding the back of the net in the 111th minute.
Cabo Verde nearly forced a penalty shootout late on, but Emiliano Martinez produced a crucial save to deny Lopes Cabral’s powerful free kick and secure Argentina’s advancement.
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16, while Cabo Verde exits the tournament after earning widespread praise for its debut World Cup campaign. (ANI)
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