Aston Villa's Poland fullback Matty Cash admits he's pinching himself sharing the same pitch with Lionel Messi.

Poland suffered a 2-0 defeat to Argentina yesterday after second half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez at the Stadium 974.

The result saw the European nation scrape into the knock-out stage on goal difference, edging Mexico for second place in Group C.

Cash told TalkSPORT that he had further cause for celebration, when Martinez presented him with Messi's shirt.

"The best thing about it was after the game, Emi Martinez comes up to me and says Cashy, I've got you a present," Cash said.

"I was like 'What could this be'. He's said follow me in the tunnel, he's gone in the changing room and said 'wait there'.

"He's walked out with a Messi shirt for me, brilliant.

"It doesn't get much better than that, seeing him in real life up close.

"I think he walked past me at half-time and I was looking at him like 'that's Messi'."