Lionel Messi surprised World Cup opponent with unexpected English gesture before their match

Lionel Messi "surprised" one of the players he came up against at the World Cup by addressing him in English.

Messi, who never speaks English in public, has been a global figure in football for two decades and has been playing in Major League Soccer since 2023.

The Argentina captain encountered a familiar foe when he led his team in Miami, where he plays club football for MLS champions Inter Miami.

31-year-old Columbus Crew defender Steven Moreira was one of many players at the World Cup who was born and raised in France but competed for other nations.

The former Rennes, Lorient and Toulouse centre-back already had a couple of seasons with the Crew under his belt before he belatedly accepted his first call-up for Cape Verde in 2023.

He played a crucial role as Bubista's team reached the round of 32, where he and Messi renewed acquaintances.

With MLS back in full swing after breaking for the World Cup, Moreira is back in Columbus and was asked in an interview whether he interacted with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"Yes, yes. Especially before the match, everyone was saying to me, 'Do you think Messi knows you?'" Moreira told former United States international Sacha Kljestan on Apple TV, Major League Soccer's official media partner.

"So I would reply, 'Yes of course. We play against each other every time [in MLS].

"Then Messi came up to me and said, 'Hi, how are you? Congratulations on everything.' And he said it in English, so I was a little surprised."

Kljestan also asked Moreira about the game, in which Cape Verde took the world champions and eventual finalists to extra time.

Cape Verde equalised in regular time and again in extra time but Argentina's third goal was enough to finally shake off the Blue Sharks.

Cape Verde surprised the world in their tournament debut

"Honestly, it was amazing," said Moreira, who played all 120 minutes and every minute of Cape Verde's first two group stage matches against Spain, a famous 0-0 draw for the World Cup debutants, and Uruguay.

Three draws in the group stage took them into the knockout rounds in their first-ever World Cup, only to come up against the holders in the round of 32.

The tie in Miami was among the most entertaining of the tournament.

"[It] put my country on top of the world. It's something I will never forget. I'm very proud," said Moreira.

"We did a lot in the game so I'm very, very proud."

Moreira and Cape Verde were a bright spot in a mixed bag of a World Cup.

The Blue Sharks were a surprise package but grabbed the attention of the world. After their goalless draw against Spain headlined the first round of group stage fixtures, veteran goalkeeper Vozinha became one of the stars of the competition.

Cape Verde's vice-captain didn't have a club after leaving Portuguese side Chaves. He is reportedly on the cusp of signing for Chilean giants Colo Colo.