Angola keeper Marques reacts after facing ‘alien’ Messi

Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques has shared his reaction after playing against Lionel Messi-led Argentina in Friday’s friendly, describing the Ballon d’Or record winner as an alien.

The Inter Miami FC superstar was a big crowd attraction in Lunda before and during the game with fans lining up the streets from the airport to the hotel while chanting Messi! Messi!

🔵 🇦🇴 🇦🇷 Angola paid €12 million and still lost the game… and the money is gone. I wonder which side the Angolan people were supporting to win, since they really love the Argentina team and Messi? At least the Angolan football players will get certificates of participation…and… pic.twitter.com/IcG6DyrGP3

— Justice Frontil Equitas (@justicefrontil) November 15, 2025

The former Barcelona ace did not disappoint during the actual game marking Angola’s 50th anniversary celebrations at 11 de Novembro National Stadium in Luanda.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year left fans gasping for their breath with a repertoire of his twists and turns, forcing Angola players to foul him and at times apologizing then lifting him up whenever they slashed him down.

How did Messi perform against Angola?

Messi created striker Lautaro Martinez’s opening goal for Argentina before putting the icing on the cake with his own goal to torch celebrations from the very same fans who were supposed to be rallying behind the home team and not the visitors.

After the match, Marques took to his Facebook page to share his reaction to the game, suggesting that Angola should be proud to have posed a strong challenge to the FIFA World Cup reigning champions.

“Today Angola won!” the Petro de Luanda keeper wrote. “He [Angola] managed to bring an alien to the country. He managed to bring the world champions.

History has been made

“This group is beyond moralized and eager to keep writing new pages. Thanks to all the Angolan people who vibrated with this day and consequently with the 50th anniversary of our independence!

“A day we will never forget! A day to enjoy, a day to play against the number one ranking and world champion, a day of playing against one of the best ever. Day to make Angola proud of us.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he was impressed by Angola’s athleticism, pace and physicality, describing the meeting as a learning curve.

The Palancas Negras used the friendly to prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Angola share Group B alongside record champions Egypt, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.