After a memorable Lionel Messi moment, former Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe has recalled the special moment — swapping jerseys with the eight‑time Ballon d’Or winner.
Hadebe was on the field when his FC Cincinnati side suffered a 4‑0 defeat to Messi’s Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference semi‑final on Sunday. Messi contributed a goal and three assists, while Tadeo Allende added a brace as Inter Miami advanced to the final.
Although Cincinnati lost, the match turned out to be one of the best days of Hadebe’s career—especially the jersey swap with Messi. Hadebe played for Betway Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs between 2017 and 2019 before moving to Turkish side Yeni Malatyaspor.
IT FELT UNREAL SAYS HADEBE AFTER HIS JERSEY SWAP WITH MESSI
From Turkey, he broke through to the Major League Soccer where he first played for Houston Dynamo FC
before FC Cincinnati. The 30‑year‑old opened up to FARPost about the experience with Messi, saying it felt like a dream:
“I couldn’t believe it; it felt unreal, like a dream come true. I felt honoured to have a shirt swap with one of the best players on the planet – the GOAT himself. I’ll forever cherish this moment; even now I’m still thinking about it.
“Honestly, I thought I was dreaming. I never imagined that moment because all I had in mind was to face him on the pitch and give my best against him, but unfortunately we ended up losing the game.
“I think I did my level best, and the rest of my teammates did too. It was overwhelming and it still feels like a dream even now. We didn’t have any conversation; we swapped shirts and hugged each other, and that was it,” he told FARPost.
Meanwhile, Hadebe looks set to stay in Cincinnati. His current MLS contract runs out on 31 December, but FC Cincinnati is ready to pull the trigger on the extension option baked into his 18‑month deal signed in August 2024.
Since joining the club, Hadebe has been a rock at the back, helping Cincinnati climb to second place in the league table this season.
Furthermore, his leadership—both on the pitch and as the Zimbabwe’s vice‑captain—has caught the eye of the club’s top brass, and they’re reportedly eager to keep him.
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