Algeria goalkeeper Melvin Mastil looks back on unforgettable Messi meeting

Melvin Mastil says exchanging shirts with Lionel Messi remains one of his most treasured memories from Algeria’s 2026 World Cup campaign, despite not playing a single minute at the tournament.

A month after the final, the 26-year-old goalkeeper recalled a competition that he considers one of the most significant experiences of his young international career. Speaking to RTS Sport, Mastil reflected on the atmosphere created by Algeria supporters, the connection between the team and its public, and the dramatic group-stage draw with Austria.

Algeria’s match against Austria ended 3-3 in Kansas City on the night of 27-28 June, during the final round of the group stage. The result secured Algeria’s qualification for the last 32, with Riyad Mahrez scoring the decisive equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time.

For Mastil, however, another moment from the tournament stands out just as strongly: meeting Messi and swapping shirts with him after Algeria’s opening match against Argentina.

That game, also played in Kansas City, took place on the night of 16-17 June. Argentina, the defending champions, won 3-0, but the result did not prevent Mastil from taking away a personal memory that he described as particularly valuable: “C’est vraiment un tres bon souvenir”.

The meeting with Messi became one of the defining images of Mastil’s World Cup experience. Although his involvement on the pitch was limited to being part of Algeria’s squad, the shirt exchange gave him a lasting reminder of a tournament that had already become important in his career.

Mastil had made his Algeria debut at the end of March against Guatemala, featuring in a 7-0 friendly victory. That appearance brought him into contention for the World Cup, although concerns had been raised about his fitness because of an inguinal hernia.

He was selected for the global tournament with two international caps to his name and occupied third place in Algeria’s goalkeeping hierarchy, behind Luca Zidane and Oussama Benbot. As a result, he remained an unused member of the squad throughout the competition and did not record any playing time.

His World Cup memories were therefore shaped away from the action as much as by it: the support from Algeria’s fans, the shared emotion between the players and the public, Mahrez’s late goal against Austria and the opportunity to meet one of football’s most recognised figures.

For Mastil, the shirt exchange with Messi offered a personal highlight from a campaign that also included Algeria’s tense qualification match with Austria and his first major tournament with the national team.