Lionel Messi admitted Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain was heartbreaking but thanked his teammates and fans for standing by the team throughout the tournament.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal to deny the defending champions a second straight World Cup title.
The defeat also ended Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first men’s team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup.
“The pain is immense and it’s going to take a long time for this wound to heal,” Messi wrote on social media.
“But I’ll also hold on to all the good memories… the support of an entire country which, together with the hard work and effort of this squad, led us to be, once again, among the best teams in the world.”
The 39-year-old also congratulated Spain and said Argentina should be proud of reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.
Messi became only the second player in history, after Brazil’s Cafu, to play in three men’s World Cup finals, having also featured in the finals in 2014 and 2022.
The Inter Miami star remains Argentina’s most successful player. He captained the team to World Cup glory in 2022, won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, and lifted the Finalissima in 2022. Messi has also won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times and is widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players.
“Once again, we managed to come together as a country and stand united,” Messi added. “Sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.”
