FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Australia training – Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar – November 15, 2022 Cameron Devlin of Australia during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
MELBOURNE—Australian midfielder Cameron Devlin didn’t play a minute at the World Cup but left Qatar with one of the biggest accolades after swapping shirts with Argentina’s Lionel Messi after a round of 16 match.
Devlin, who played for Heart of Midlothian in Scotland’s top flight, swooped down after the Socceroos were knocked out 2-1, with the Argentinian amulet Messi scored a goal in his 1,000th game.
Devlin told reporters at Sydney airport after returning from Qatar: “I went on (to the pitch) and comforted all the boys, then shook Messi’s hand.
“Nobody said anything so I just tried my luck and he said, ‘I’ll see you inside,’ and that’s what happened.”
Video shared online shows Messi shirtless handing over his shirt to Devlin and embracing the Socceroo player.
“(I wanted) one of the other boys to have a chance first, but no one took it, so I thought why not?” Devlin, 24, said.
“I don’t know if (mine) will be on the wall at his house or maybe still lying on the ground in that dressing room but I’m not worried – moreover I took his… I’m surprised that he even took mine.
“He certainly won’t know who I am, but he’s a kind enough man and humble enough to still show that respect.”
Devlin said he will keep Messi’s shirt at home and his father will take care of it for him.
“I don’t think he’ll let me touch it anymore,” he added.
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