Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FC CINCINNATI defender Teenage Hadebe is parting with one of the most prized items of his career, the match-worn Lionel Messi jersey he collected after facing Inter Miami. Instead of keeping it as a personal trophy, he is sending it to Zimbabwean football benefactor Scott Sakupwanya, a man he believes is changing the local game in ways worth honouring.
What first looked like a simple, emotional gesture carried a heavier story once the dust settled, shaped as much by admiration as by the backlash that followed the moment.
Hadebe had swapped shirts with Messi moments after Cincinnati were beaten 4-0 in an MLS conference semi-final, a defeat that ended their season in painful fashion. The exchange, caught on camera, instantly went viral. The attention was swift, and so was the criticism.
Former Canadian international and Apple TV analyst Kaylyn Kyle led the charge, calling the moment embarrassing for a team that had just suffered what she described as a 4-0 thrashing. Critics felt the gesture made Cincinnati look starstruck and unprofessional, especially in front of a home crowd that had watched their team collapse on a big night.
For those critics, the timing felt careless.
For some fans, it felt disrespectful.
For Hadebe, the jersey already had a purpose.
He never directly responded to the backlash, but it soon emerged that he had always intended to give the Messi jersey to Sakupwanya, the owner of newly crowned champions Scottland. The gift, he said, was inspired by Sakupwanya’s growing impact on Zimbabwean football.
“I admire what he has done; he’s made his team match international standards in whatever they do. It’s very loud and clear for everyone to witness that things are being done in the correct way and it’s now up to other teams to match that such that our local football improves immensely,” said Hadebe.
In that light, the Messi shirt becomes a tribute stretched across continents, honouring a man whose investment and vision have pushed Scottland into a new space. Sakupwanya’s work has drawn praise for its structure, its attention to infrastructure and the way it places player welfare at the centre of everything.
That is what Hadebe wanted to acknowledge.
The jersey becomes a symbol of respect, not a keepsake from a bad night.
Despite speculation that the gesture hinted at a potential move, Hadebe was clear that he is not heading to the Zimbabwean champions any time soon. He confirmed he is set to renew his contract in Cincinnati.
“My focus is here now, maybe in the near future we can see how it goes. You know how football rolls, so you can’t predict the future, but at the moment, I am certain that I will be focusing on staying here. So it is only God who knows the seasons and time will tell,” he said.
Sources in the United States told Zimpapers Sports that Cincinnati have already moved to activate an extension clause on Hadebe’s contract, which was due to expire on December 31. The club views him as a core part of its defensive plans.
“Teenage feels truly at home in Cincinnati. The project here is ambitious, and he sees himself as a fundamental part of its future. He has built a strong connection with the coaches, his teammates, and the fans. This wasn’t a difficult decision; it was the natural next step,” the source said.
The jersey controversy sparked a wider debate online. Some fans argued that swapping shirts with the greatest player of the modern era is a rare moment no professional would pass up. Others felt the timing was wrong and the exchange should have happened out of sight.
In the end, the fuller story changed the tone.
The shirt was never about the loss or the cameras.
It was about honouring someone Hadebe believes is doing things the right way in Zimbabwean football.
