How Socceroos striker Mitch Duke secured Lionel Messi's other World Cup jersey in Qatar

Cammy Devlin swapped jerseys with Lionel Messi after the Socceroos‘ loss to Argentina. Undeterred while waiting in the drug testing room, Mitch Duke made sure he didn’t miss out, writes ADAM PEACOCK.

Duke and Messi share a few words after Argentina’s win over the Socceroos. Picture: Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Given the dehydration and how long it can take for nature to call, post-match drug tests are the bane of sportspeople.

When Mitch Duke got the tap on the shoulder after the Socceroos’ narrow loss to Argentina, he was really annoyed.

“Last game, the way it finished too, all I wanted was to spend time with the boys after the journey we had,” Duke tells CODE Sports.

“So I was raging.”

To make it worse, it meant he couldn’t swap jerseys with any of the Argentines.

Duke didn’t really care who, he just wanted anyone’s, but quarantining in the drug testing room for an hour made a bad night worse.

And then in-walked the GOAT. Lionel Messi, also summoned to get tested.

“I instantly felt a bit better,” laughs Duke, who sensed his chance.

Duke attempts to get the ball off Messi. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images

At this stage, he didn’t know Cammy Devlin had used all his cunning to stop Messi on his way from a press conference to drug testing.

Duke eventually worked up the courage to ask, ‘please, pretty please?’.

“Messi ended up looking to his staff member with him to translate, and gave me the custard pie!”

Australia, like most teams, get three jerseys per game. So Duke, never known to give up on a lost cause on the pitch, kept at it.

“Was thinking this little magician took the piss out of us, greatest of all time,” Duke says.

“I was like, I need to beg this guy for a jersey, or I’ll kick myself.”

The second request was met with the same blankness as the first.

There was little conversation. Messi doesn’t speak English. He just sat uploading an Instagram post and admiring videos of his kids celebrating the goal that helped end the Socceroos’ campaign.

Cam Devlin had managed to get his hands on one of Messi’s shirts earlier. Picture: Mark Metcalfe – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Along with Ajdin Hrustic, and Angel Di Maria, an hour went by as each man smashed water after water. Duke had seven bottles, finally enough to provide a sample.

Duke plodded back to the now empty Australian rooms. And there, lying on his bag, a miracle.

“Came back to one of his jerseys, and was absolutely over the moon. The Argentine kit man had got one of his other ones and dropped it off.”

Duke made sure not to pack the jersey in his checked-in luggage when leaving Doha for the UK the next day.

Duke made sure the prized jersey stayed close as he left Qatar. Picture: Instagram

“I was man-marking it on the plane! Too scared to put my backpack in the hold above. Literally laid next to it,” he laughs.

Duke is dreaming of the day that he can put the Messi jersey, his man of the match trophy from the Tunisia game and other mementos on display.

“The man cave will be looking pretty good when I retire!”

The striker, whose goal against Tunisia secured the Socceroos’ first World Cup win in 12 years, doesn’t buy into the chat that getting photos, or trying to swap jerseys with Messi reveals an inferiority complex.

“Saw a bit of a reaction over social media with some of the boys getting photos with Messi. Lot of us Aussie boys don’t play at the top clubs. So why not get a photo with a legend. Once in a lifetime opportunity,” he says.

“At the end of the day, we’re all football fans.”

Duke is back in the UK spending time with his kids after being separated from them all year while playing in Japan.

Only now is he coming out of the clouds that a World Cup experience brings.

“Straight back to reality,” he says after putting his two-year-old daughter down for a nap.

“Even without drinking, it feels like I’m on an emotional hangover now, it’s just mental.”

Duke is still coming to terms with his World Cup experience. Picture: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP

Duke has about a month off before returning to Japan, where he’s about to announce a deal with an unnamed J2 club, for more money, moving on from his current club in the same division, Fagiano Okayama.

There was interest from Europe and other clubs in Japan after his performances in Qatar.

“It’s always tough to say no to, but I agreed to this deal before the World Cup,” Duke says.

“I’m already happy with how it is financially. I like J2, like Tokyo, so can’t complain.”

Duke is also adamant Graham Arnold is the man to lead the Socceroos towards 2026.

“Over the moon for him. He had so many naysayers, haters, doubters,” Duke says.

“I know it’s been a tough ride for him emotionally and mentally. I’d love him to stay of course, but that’s up to him.

“I’d back him all day, I’d love to see him in charge for the 2024 Asian Cup. Lots of young boys, exciting talent to be pumped about, and I believe the core group has the ability to go all the way in the Asian Cup.

“The atmosphere and family environment he’s created is second to none, from what I’ve experienced in club football, or anywhere.”

Originally published as How Socceroos striker Mitch Duke secured Lionel Messi's other World Cup jersey in Qatar