Angola captain Fredy has revealed a gesture that reaffirms the humble image of Lionel Messi on and off the pitch. According to the player himself, the Argentine did not hesitate to give him his used shirt when he asked for it during the pre-match draw. The simple action marked the African footballers, who wanted to have a souvenir of the world champion.
Fredy explained that Messi not only agreed immediately, but also showed himself open to talking during brief moments of the match. For the Angolan squad, the opportunity to face a historic figure in football was a source of admiration and enthusiasm.
Angola players tried to get close to Messi in the hotel
Before the match, several Angola players sought a moment with the Inter Miami star. However, Fredy explained that the high level of security around the Argentine team made such an approach practically impossible. Speaking to Tribal Football, the captain explained that many members of the squad wanted to greet Messi, ask him for a photo or simply meet him, but there was no way to do so.
The captain commented that there was a strict separation between delegations in the hotel, to the point that only some players met Messi or other Argentinean footballers for seconds. The security, he said, was designed to avoid any “commotion” caused by constant requests for jerseys, photos or conversations.
The captain stressed that the interaction would have been special for everyone, especially as facing Messi represents a unique experience for any African footballer or from anywhere in the world. However, the opportunity finally came on the pitch, and he decided to take advantage of it in the draw to ask for the shirt directly.
Fredy hid Lionel Messi’s shirt from his friends
The captain of the African team confessed that he locked the precious item away so that his friends could not access it. He claimed that this was a very precious and personal memory for him.
My friends tell me to keep it when they go home
“The shirt is clean and under lock and key. Many of my friends even joke: ‘When I go to your house, you’d better keep it’. But it’s safe. It’s a special memory. The moment itself is eternal, but to have had the privilege of swapping shirts with Messi is something unique,” Fredy confessed.
Lionel Messi responded naturally to the request
When Fredy asked him for the jersey during the draw, Messi reacted with total naturalness. The Argentine accepted the request without thinking twice, according to the captain himself, reinforcing the image of closeness and simplicity that has always characterized him.
For the Angola group, this gesture made up for the inability to interact with him before the match and left an anecdote that, according to Fredy, none of his teammates will forget.
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