aN’Gola captain Freddie has revealed a gesture that reaffirms Lionel Messi’s humble image on and off the pitch. According to the player himself, when the Argentine player was asked for his used jersey during a pre-match raffle, he did not hesitate to hand it over. This simple act caught the attention of African soccer players who were looking for a souvenir of the world champion.
Freddie explained that Messi not only agreed immediately, but also showed a willingness to speak even for a short period of time during the match. For the Angola national team, the opportunity to play against a historical figure in football was a source of admiration and enthusiasm.
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Angola players tried to get close to Messi at the hotel
Before the match, several Angolan players asked for a moment with the Inter Miami star. However, Freddie explained that such an approach was virtually impossible due to the tight security surrounding the Argentine team. Speaking to Tribal Football, the captain explained that many members of the team had wanted to say hello to Messi, have their photo taken or just meet him, but there was no way to do so.
The captain commented that there was strict isolation between the delegations in the hotel and that only some of the players met Messi and other Argentine footballers for a few seconds. He said the security was designed to avoid “disturbance” caused by constant requests for jerseys, photos and conversations.
The captain emphasized that this interaction would have been special for everyone, especially as playing against Messi is a unique experience for an African footballer, or any player in the world. However, an opportunity finally presented itself on the pitch, and he decided to take advantage of the draw and request the uniform directly.
Freddie hid Lionel Messi’s shirt from his friends
The African team captain confessed that he locked away his valuables so his friends couldn’t access them. He claimed that this was a very precious personal memory for him.
Friends tell me to keep it when I get home
“The shirt is clean and locked. Many of my friends joke that ‘when I go to your house, I should keep it’. But it’s safe. It’s a special memory. The moment itself is eternal, but to have the privilege of exchanging shirts with Messi was special,” Freddie confessed.
Lionel Messi naturally responded to the request.
When Freddie asked for his jersey during the draw, Messi had a completely natural reaction. According to the captain himself, the Argentine player accepted the request without thinking twice, reinforcing the image of friendliness and simplicity that has always been his hallmark.
For the Angola group, this gesture made up for not being able to interact with him before the match and, according to Freddie, left an anecdote that none of his teammates will forget.
