The Dubliner exchanged words with Lionel Messi during the World Cup last 32 clash
15:53, 05 Jul 2026Updated 00:19, 06 Jul 2026
Pico Lopes and Lionel Messi(Image: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Pico Lopes says there wasn’t much to a confrontation between himself and Lionel Messi during Argentina’s win over Cape Verde.
It took the South American giants until extra-time to see off the African nation, who Shamrock Rovers captain Lopes qualifies to represent through his father.
The Dubliner and Messi were seen exchanging words during the last 32 clash, which Argentina won 3-2 following extra-time after the game finished 1-1 in 90 minutes.
“There was nothing really to it. I think he took exception,” Lopes told Cathal Dervan of OTS Media.
“I think I gave him a little push because he is just in front of me and I wanted to make sure he stayed there because if he got in behind me, we saw what he could do last night.
“He was just making it known that, ‘That is a foul. You pushed me off the ball’. And I was like, ‘I know, but I have to keep you there’.”
Lopes added the pair “had a handshake, a little laugh, and we got on with it”.
While admitting that the narrow margin of the defeat is still raw, Lopes admits himself and his teammates can look back on their World Cup journey with great pride.
The underdogs twice fought back against the defending champions, with the second comeback proving to be one of the tournament’s standout moments as left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral unleashed a spectacular shot into the top-corner during extra-time.
Lisandro Martinez had previously netted in the additional period to make it 2-1 after Lionel Messi’s first-half opener had been levelled by Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte.
Cabral’s strike and the subsequent wave of jubilation as he climbed into the crowd to embrace his family appeared destined to become the defining memory of the match.
However, Argentina dramatically seized victory when Cristian Romero challenged for Messi’s corner delivery, and in attempting to prevent him, Borges diverted the ball into his own goal.
“You’re playing against the reigning world champions but when you cross the pitch you have to treat them as equals,” Lopes said.
“It is 11v11. We showed great character, we showed great courage and bravery to attack them when we got our opportunities.
“We just got a shock a few minutes before penalties which would have been a great way to end that game.
“It wasn’t to be but we will take huge pride in that.”