Cape Verde players interrupted Lionel Messi's media interviews after Argentina's dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory in the World Cup round of 16, eager to take pictures with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Messi Scores Seventh Goal in Thrilling Encounter
Argentina, the defending champions, faced an unexpected challenge from the tiny island nation. Messi netted his seventh goal of the competition, but Cape Verde twice equalized with outstanding strikes, forcing extra time. Cristian Romero's deflected header ultimately secured Argentina's place in the last 16 against Egypt.
After the match, as Messi conducted his usual media rounds, several Cape Verde players approached him, seeking selfies. Messi paused his interview to oblige, joking: "They asked for my jersey, everything... On the field, they kick the c**p out of me."
Messi Praises Cape Verde's Performance
Resuming his interview, Messi praised the underdogs, saying: "It was a very tough game. They hadn't lost to Spain or Uruguay. We did the most difficult thing, which was to score the first goal. We thought that we would be able to play our game and be calm, but it was the opposite."
He added: "We lost the ball, we were a bit behind, we couldn't press it well. They hit us with their weapons. We knew it would be difficult. This is a kill-kill game and no one gives you anything."
Messi reflected on the competitiveness of the tournament: "This is what sets this World Cup apart. It's all very even, very complicated, all the games are going to be very difficult. We suffered, while playing well and playing badly."
Cape Verde's Impressive World Cup Run
Cape Verde exited the tournament undefeated in regulation time. They drew 0-0 with Spain and Saudi Arabia and held two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in the group stage.
Messi concluded: "The important thing now is to rest, think about what's coming and try to get positive things out of today's game. I think there are positive things beyond the pass, because we did good things. And we corrected the bad ones, which I think are also very important today."
