Didier Drogba recalled a gesture of solidarity from Lionel Messi in Africa ahead of the 2026 World Cup final

In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup final, Didier Drogba recalled an experience he shared with Lionel Messi during a trip to a village in the African jungle, where both participated in an advertising campaign.

According to the former Ivory Coast footballer, the Argentine captain was deeply affected by the living conditions of the area's inhabitants, especially the difficulties in accessing clean water and basic services.

Drogba recounted that, after the activity concluded, Messi expressed his concern for the community's situation and decided to allocate the money he received from the campaign to infrastructure projects for the residents.

According to the testimony of the former African striker, Messi specifically requested that his name not be linked to the donation.

Still according to Drogba's account, months later, the Argentine sent a team of professionals to ensure that the funds were used correctly and that the planned projects progressed as intended.

The Ivorian stated that, when asked why he preferred to keep the gesture private, Messi responded with a phrase that left a mark on him: "Africa doesn't need announcements, it needs actions. And real actions don't need testimonials."