On July 17, the Australian national team released a video on their official social media. Australian international Devlin recalled his feelings about receiving Messi's 1000th appearance jersey.
He said, "It's not every day that I have the opportunity to come to such a big stage as the World Cup. We've faced some world-class teams and played against many superstars. So I think this is a rare opportunity to exchange jerseys. For a young Australian player, being able to exchange jerseys with these top stars is like fulfilling a dream."
To be honest, I didn't really expect to get this (1000th appearance) jersey, but I think it's something you have to try. When I see players who have played against us before, I don't actively ask them for anything, but from my perspective, I think I should still ask. Because I most likely won't have another chance to play against Messi. If you ask, they might refuse, or they might very kindly agree, and that actually reflects a person's character and qualities.
He's clearly a very humble player, and it was really great that he took the time to give me his jersey. I'm very grateful for that.
