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Brazilian football legend Rivaldo was keen to praise the performance of Lionel Messi and Argentina after their 3-2 win over Egypt on Tuesday night to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Rivaldo took to his Instagram account to praise the fighting spirit shown in the match, saying:
The former Brazilian star singled out the Argentina captain for special praise, adding: “As for Lionel Messi, it is self-explanatory. What kind of player is he? At the age of 39, participating in the World Cup for the sixth time, he still shows the same passion for the Argentina jersey: he cheers, he fights, he cries and he is determined again.
Rivaldo emphasized that the historic rivalry between Brazil and Argentina does not prevent him from understanding the value of his rival’s offer, saying: “I am Brazilian, I love my country and I will always support our national team. Competition is part of football, but I also know how to appreciate and admire when I watch a great match and a team that gives everything on the pitch.” He concluded his message by congratulating the Argentine team, stressing that “such matches enrich football and deserve the World Cup. Congratulations to Argentina for qualifying.”
Egypt led by two clean sheets until the 79th minute when Messi and his teammates turned coach Hossam Hassan’s side around to win 3-2 in about 13 minutes to set up a quarter-final date with Switzerland, who edged out Colombia on penalties on Wednesday morning.
