Lionel Messi has jokingly said Cape Verde’s players “kick the crap” out of him during matches before asking for his shirt and photographs after the final whistle.
The Argentina captain made the light-hearted remark following his side’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash in Miami on Friday.
After the match, several Cape Verde players queued to exchange shirts and take selfies with the football icon, requests Messi gladly honoured.
Reflecting on the encounter, Messi praised his opponents for their determination but joked about the physical treatment he received during the game.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also highlighted the importance of Argentina’s improvement from set-pieces, saying the team had worked extensively on both attacking and defensive dead-ball situations.
Despite the victory, Messi admitted Argentina’s overall performance was far from perfect, noting that the team struggled to maintain possession and lost control of the game after taking the lead.
The win secured Argentina’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Egypt after the North Africans advanced on penalties against Australia.
Messi also reached another career milestone by scoring his 20th FIFA World Cup goal during the match.