Cameron Devlin: Meet the Lucky Australia Player to Get Lionel Messi's 1000th Appearance Jersey

• Australia Cameron Devlin will return to Sydney with Lionel Messi's 1000th appearance jersey
• The Argentina superstar swapped jerseys with the Hearts of Midlothian player after their game
• Messi scored to inspire Argentina to a 2-1 victory over the Socceroos, and a quarter-final place

Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin will consider himself the luckiest player at the end of the round of 16 clash against Argentina.

The Hearts of Midlothian player was an unused substitute, as Lionel Messi produced a masterful performance to lead Argentina into the last eight of the World Cup.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or marked his 1000th career appearance with a goal as the South Americans defeated the Socceroos 2-1 on Saturday.

After the game, players of Australia waited in the tunnel to celebrate Messi's new milestone by taking photos with the PSG star.

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer: Is CR7 leaving Manchester United and which clubs are likely to acquire him?

Football

Messi spotted Devlin and presented his record setting jersey to the 24-year-old, before leaving.

Who is Cameron Devlin?

Devlin was born in Sydney, Australia and spent most of his youth playing for local clubs. He started his professional career at the Sutherland Sharks in 2015 and joined the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2016.

He later played for Sydney FC, before moving to Wellington Phoenix FC in 2019. His big breakthrough came when he joined Newcastle Jets in 2021 - and without even making an appearance - was signed by Scottish side Hearts of Midlothian

Devlin made his Socceroos debut in 2022 and was included in the squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Messi: Australia players take photos

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Messi and Argentina survived nervy final moments, to see off Australia in the round of 16 match of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

World Cup 2022: Awkward moment Cristiano Ronaldo pulled iconic 'Siuuu' celebration in front of Messi

Football

It was Messi's 1,000th career game and he made the most of it with a goal, as well as setting new records and breaking some existing ones.

Though there is a never-ending debate as to who the greatest is between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, anyone would be pleased to have met the two of them in their life.