Zlatan Praises Cape Verde Miracle: I Almost Cried, What They Did Will Be in History Books

Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimović praised the historic journey of the Cape Verde national team in the 2026 World Cup, following their narrow exit against Argentina with a score of 3-2 after extra time, emphasizing that what the African team achieved transcends mere tournament results.

Zlatan, who was analyzing the match for FOX Sports, stated: "I can stand here and applaud Cape Verde. Today was all about Cape Verde. A small island with big dreams, and they were on the verge of defeating a giant like Argentina. These players are champions; they have become icons in their country."

He added: "They didn't lose a single match in 90 minutes throughout the tournament, and that should be noted as well. No one in the world thought that was possible, but in Cape Verde, they believed it. I am 200% sure they will receive a hero's welcome when they return home."

Zlatan concluded his remarks with an emotional message, saying: "What they did will become part of history books. I almost cried because I enjoyed these moments so much. It wasn't about Argentina or Messi; it was about Cape Verde. This is football... pure emotions. They didn't win the World Cup, but they wrote a beautiful story, and often the beautiful story remains more than the hero itself."

Despite their exit from the tournament, the Cape Verde national team received widespread acclaim from media and fans around the world after pushing the defending champions to a marathon match that extended into extra time, in one of the most thrilling matches of the 2026 World Cup, concluding their first World Cup appearance in a memorable way.