Dream goal against Messi: Duarte's unforgettable World Cup moment

Deroy Duarte, the Rotterdam‑born striker for Cape Verde, turned a fleeting chance into a dream goal against Lionel Messi at the World Cup, a moment he says is beyond comparison and will stay with him forever.

In the duel with Argentina, Duarte found space just outside the penalty area. He recalled, “I saw that Lisandro Martínez gave me quite a bit of space. I was free and didn’t understand why. Then I knew: time to take the shot.”

The effort flew into the net, prompting a surge of pure emotion. He described the scene: “You are at the World Cup against Argentina and you score, Messi is there. Your family is in the stands. That feeling is indescribable – without doubt the best feeling I have ever had.”

Although Argentina proved stronger after extra time, Duarte expressed pride in Cape Verde’s performance. He noted that the nation has now “definitely put itself on the map” and that “no one needs to explain where Cape Verde is any longer.”

Speaking to RTV Rijnmond, Duarte emphasized the uniqueness of the experience, stating, “That feeling is incomparable.”

The forward grew up in the Rotterdam district of Spangen, spending countless hours playing on neighbourhood squares. He reflected, “Scoring at the World Cup from Spangen is something I wouldn’t have believed two years ago, but everything is possible if you work hard.”

His brother Laros also featured at the tournament, turning the event into a shared dream. “For us it was truly a dream to play together at the World Cup. We didn’t want only one professional footballer; we wanted both of us on the pitch.”