Lionel Messi-led Argentina failed to become the third team to successfully retain the World Cup trophy after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Spain in the final. Unlike Spain, Argentina won all their games en route to the final and they were expected to continue their purple patch. But the three-time champions put on a forgettable performance and failed to score. Spain became two-time World Cup champions by winning the final. A day after the final, Lionel Messi shared an emotional post on Instagram and said that the pain of defeat in the final is “immense”.
“The pain is immense, it will take time for this wound to heal. But I also choose to hold on to all the good things, all matches we turned around by giving everything and moments that will remain in our memories forever. I will always remember the support of an entire country that, together with the work and effort of this group, brought us back once again among the best teams in the world. Today, it is difficult to appreciate what we achieved… but this group has really reached two consecutive World Cup finals,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again, we managed to come together as a country and stand united, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning World Cup,” he added.
Messi’s sluggish performance was among the biggest reasons behind Argentina’s defeat. He failed to register a shot till the 117th minute. Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and couldn’t win the Golden Boot. With 10 goals, Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot once again.
Will Lionel Messi retire from international football?
Lionel Messi etched his name in record books as he joined the elite list of players to play six World Cups. Should he play the next WC, Messi will become the first-ever footballer to feature in seven global events. Speaking to the media after the final against Spain, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni didn’t give a clear response on Messi’s future, keeping the fans guessing.
“Well, he’s 39 years old now. Unbelievable. There’s nothing new to discover from my side. It was crystal clear for me that he’s going to play up until he decided to do so, and that all the team players, team-mates, and all of his people were going to support him. And I’m sure I hope that everyone feels proud of him, of what he’s achieved, because he’s the best football player ever,” he said.
Messi plays for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer. His contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the 2028 MLS season. He re-signed with the club in October 2025.