Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira says Lionel Messi surprised him by speaking in English ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout match against Argentina. Moreira, who played regularly against Messi in club settings through their MLS connections, said the approach stood out because Messi usually does not use English in that context. According to Moreira, Messi acknowledged him before the match and congratulated him on reaching the tournament. The reports describe the interaction as brief but notable, with Moreira emphasizing that he was “surprised” by Messi’s choice to speak English.
Moreira also discussed Cape Verde’s performance in the tournament, portraying their campaign as historic. He highlighted that the team’s run ends with a dramatic extra-time defeat to Argentina, reflecting both the competitiveness of Cape Verde at the World Cup level and the narrow nature of the outcome. The comments are based on Moreira’s own account of what happened around the time of the Argentina clash.
