An Australia international who did not play a single minute at the 2022 FIFA World Cup has revealed how he managed to get Lionel Messi's match shirt last weekend.
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Despite not getting any minutes at the showpiece in Qatar, Socceroos player Cameron Devlin left the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium with the jersey in which Messi dazzled to inspire Argentina to a place in the quarter-finals.
Messi scored the opening goal of their 2-1 victory over Australia this past Saturday in a performance many labelled as the best individual display of the tournament until that point.
Devlin, who was named in Graham Arnold's squad but did get any playing time in Qatar, has explained how he walked away with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's match-worn shirt.
"I went on [the pitch] and consoled all the boys first and then shook Messi's hand," he said, according to the Daily Mail.
"No one had said anything so I just tried my luck and he said, 'I'll see you inside,' and that's what happened.
"I definitely wanted one of the other boys to have the opportunity first, but no one took it, so I thought, 'Why not?'"
Devlin also revealed that Messi took his shirt but admitted he was not concerned about what the Argentine would do with it.
"I don't know if it will be on his wall at home or maybe still on the ground in that changing room but I'm not fussed – it's more that I got his," he added.
"I was surprised he even took mine.
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"He definitely wouldn't know who I am, but he's a nice enough bloke and a humble enough bloke to still show that respect, and that's obviously super nice, but I wasn't too worried about what my jersey was doing at that stage."
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