Cabo Verde has emerged as a surprising highlight of the 2026 North America World Cup, receiving high praise from soccer legends. Although they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Argentina in a penalty shootout, the team left a strong impression, with former champions calling for a special award for their performance.
French soccer legend Thierry Henry was among the first to commend Cabo Verde. After the match, he stated on air, "The official Man of the Match was Messi, but the Man of the Match for Cabo Verde was the entire team. FIFA should create a special award for them, whether it's heart-shaped or any form. They can certainly do it."
Henry's remarks highlighted the team's collective spirit and performance rather than singling out individual players.
Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic also praised Cabo Verde, saying, "This match will go down in history. They may not have won the World Cup, but it was a truly beautiful story. People remember beautiful stories longer than great moments. For Cabo Verde, this match was just that."
He added, "Honestly, who would have expected such a performance? Cabo Verde is one of the smallest countries to compete in the World Cup and the first to reach the finals. Yet, they faced strong teams like Spain, Uruguay, and Argentina with confidence and displayed remarkable skill."
Zlatan noted, "They showed no fear of their opponents, nor did they show excessive respect. In fact, at times, they played better soccer than Argentina. They almost won."
Henry emphasized the significance of the match for soccer fans, joking, "It felt like my hair was growing back during the game," before adding, "Everyone knows how impactful this match was."
He remarked, "What impressed me most was the population of that country. Cabo Verde proved that if you believe you can achieve something, you can."
Henry concluded, "This match has made the entire world aware of where Cabo Verde is located. That is the most important takeaway."
Although Cabo Verde did not advance to the quarterfinals, they made a strong statement against the title favorites, Argentina, by holding them to a competitive 120 minutes. Following the match, Messi personally encouraged Cabo Verde players and exchanged jerseys, while legends like Henry and Zlatan united in their praise, solidifying Cabo Verde's status as the ultimate 'underdog' of this World Cup.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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