'I Was Surprised': Cape Verde's Moreira recalls Messi's rare English before Argentina tie
Steven Moreira said 'I Was Surprised' after Lionel Messi addressed him in English ahead of their World Cup knockout meeting with Argentina. The Cape Verde defender revealed Messi congratulated him on making the tournament.
The exchange took place before the sides met in the knockout phase of the World Cup, and Moreira emphasised that the greeting was unexpected given their history. The two players have come up against one another frequently as MLS rivals, which made Messi’s choice of language notable. Moreira described the moment as standing out amid the usual pre-match formalities.
Moreira recounted that Messi spoke to him in English and offered congratulations for reaching the competition. That brief interaction surprised the defender because, despite their regular encounters in the MLS, Messi rarely used English in such a personal greeting. The unexpectedness of the moment was what Moreira highlighted when discussing the lead-up to the match.
The Cape Verde defender placed the gesture in the wider context of his nation’s run at the tournament. Moreira praised Cape Verde’s historic debut campaign, despite their dramatic extra-time defeat against Argentina. He framed the team’s performance as a significant achievement for a first appearance on the World Cup stage.
Moreira’s comments tied together the personal and collective elements of the experience: an individual encounter with one of the game’s biggest stars and the broader pride of representing a debutant nation. He noted how the congratulatory words from Messi felt especially meaningful given the occasion and the profile of the opponent. The MLS rivalry between the players meant they were familiar with each other on the field, but the language choice added an unusual personal touch.
The conversation between Messi and Moreira, and the defender’s reflections afterward, underscored the human moments that accompany high-profile international fixtures. Moreira’s reaction to the rare English exchange and his praise of Cape Verde’s showing together highlighted both the surprise of the encounter and the pride in his country’s World Cup debut.
