Messi marks Argentina’s World Cup final defeat with reflection on ‘immense pain’

Lionel Messi has issued a poignant reflection on Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, describing the loss as a wound that will take time to heal. The match, contested in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw Spain secure their second World Cup title with a late goal from Ferran Torres in the 105th minute, ending Argentina’s bid for a second consecutive championship.

Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament, posted a message on Instagram on Monday evening accompanied by a photograph of him holding the silver medal. He acknowledged the “immense pain” of the result but also highlighted the team’s journey, noting that Argentina had reached two consecutive World Cup finals. The squad rallied past England in the semi-finals before facing a Spanish defence that successfully held them without a shot on goal during the final.

While the defeat marks a somber end to the tournament for Argentina, Messi’s individual performance was historic. He finished the competition with 21 goals, breaking Miroslav Klose’s previous all-time record of 16. However, he was surpassed by Kylian Mbappe, who scored 22 goals to claim the Golden Boot, while Messi finished with eight tournament goals.

The outcome completes a significant double for Spain, who also won the Euro 2024 title under manager Luis de la Fuente. Following their victory, the Spanish national team returned to Madrid on 20 July 2026 for a state welcome attended by an estimated 1.8 million people, underscoring the scale of public engagement with the victorious squad.

In immediate aftermath, it was reported that Messi and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul will miss the next two regular-season Major League Soccer matches and the MLS All-Star Game. The club confirmed the players will rest and recover from the physical demands of the World Cup, with Messi’s future international appearances remaining unconfirmed despite rumours that this was his final World Cup appearance.