The unknown goalkeeper, whose shirt Messi personally asked for back then, became a World Cup hero three years later – it’s still miraculous to think about it.
Messi once scored a hat-trick against him, but it was his actions after the match that will forever remain etched in the memory of the 2026 World Cup hero.
Eloy Room is currently the most talked-about name at the 2026 World Cup after his outstanding performance that helped Curaçao draw with Ecuador. However, amidst the praise for the 37-year-old goalkeeper, fans are recalling a special story involving Lionel Messi from three years ago – a moment Room himself called “a dream come true.”
Before becoming a hero for Curaçao at the biggest tournament on the planet, Eloy Room experienced one of the most forgettable matches of his career. On March 28, 2023, Argentina played a friendly match against Curaçao to celebrate their 2022 World Cup victory. It was a completely dominant performance by the world champions, winning 7-0.
The person who caused Room the most distress that day was none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar scored a hat-trick, with the first goal being historic as it marked his 100th goal for the national team.
Conceding seven goals against a star-studded Argentinian team is no easy feat for any goalkeeper. However, what left the deepest impression on Room came after the final whistle. As the Argentinian players celebrated with the fans at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Messi unexpectedly approached the Curaçao goalkeeper and asked to exchange shirts.
Messi once proactively asked to swap jerseys with goalkeeper Eloy Room, and three years later, he became a World Cup hero for Curaçao.
In an era where most jersey exchanges take place in tunnels or locker rooms, Messi’s action on the pitch surprised Room immensely. Messi may have wanted to keep the jersey of the goalkeeper who had witnessed his 100th goal for the Argentine national team. But for Room, it was a much more special moment.
The Dutch-born goalkeeper later posted a photo of himself with Messi’s jersey on social media with the short caption: “A dream come true.”
Three years later, fate brought Eloy Room back into the spotlight of the World Cup. In the match against Ecuador, the veteran goalkeeper repeatedly made saves against dangerous shots from the opponent. His outstanding performance helped Curaçao secure a valuable result and also cemented Room’s place in the tournament’s history with a new save record. After the match, when asked about memorable milestones in his career, Room immediately mentioned Messi. “The match against Messi was truly special. He even asked for my shirt. It was a fantastic moment in my career,” the Curaçao goalkeeper shared with Olé.
Eloy Room became the hero, helping Curaçao draw with Ecuador (Photo: Getty).
However, he humorously asserted that the shirt he wore in the match against Ecuador would have a different fate.
“This match was just as crazy, but I won’t give this shirt to anyone. I’ll keep it for myself.”
From the goalkeeper who conceded 7 goals against Argentina years ago, Eloy Room has now become a symbol of the fighting spirit of Curaçao at the 2026 World Cup.
And in that memorable journey, the shirt that Messi proactively asked to exchange after the 2023 match remains a priceless memento, a special “blessing” from the greatest superstar of his generation for the goalkeeper who is writing his own fairy tale.
