Lionel Messi has broken his silence after Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain, describing the 'immense pain' he feels following the 1-0 defeat in New Jersey. The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward took to Instagram on Monday to share an emotional message, acknowledging the hurt while also thanking fans and congratulating the new champions.
Argentina's defensive struggle in the final
The match, held at MetLife Stadium, saw Spain dominate possession and chances but fail to score until extra time. Ferran Torres netted the winner in the 106th minute, securing Spain's victory. Argentina managed zero shots on target across 120 minutes, a stark contrast to their 2022 final win over France. The defending champions had scraped through the knockout stages, narrowly beating Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, and England, but could not replicate their gritty run against a dominant Spanish side.
Messi's emotional Instagram post
In his post, Messi wrote: 'The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal. But I also hold onto all the good things… The matches we turned around by giving it our all—moments that will remain in our memories forever—and the support of an entire country which, combined with this group's hard work and effort, brought us back among the world's elite once again. It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals.' He added: 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.'
Messi's future with Argentina
Messi has indicated this will be his last World Cup, though he previously made a similar statement after the 2022 tournament. He has not announced retirement from international football and could feature in the 2028 Copa America. During the 2026 World Cup, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists, demonstrating his enduring quality. Argentina will likely welcome his continued presence if he chooses to remain with the national team.
The defeat sparked controversy, with Argentina players reportedly clashing with Spain's Rodri after the final whistle. Spain's Marc Cucurella promised to get a tattoo commemorating the win, while Ballon d'Or odds shifted following the result.
