Lionel Messi expressed his gratitude to the Argentine fans, revealing the pain of the defeat in the 2026 North American World Cup final.
On the 20th, through his Instagram, Messi stated, "The pain is too great, and it seems like it will take a long time for this wound to heal."
Argentina suffered a 0-1 defeat in the final against Spain, unable to take a single shot in 90 minutes due to Spain's suffocating defense. This was the first time in World Cup final history.
He praised the team's efforts, saying, "It is difficult to evaluate our achievements properly at the moment, but the national team has reached the World Cup final for the second time in a row." He continued, "The games where we poured everything out, the unforgettable games, and the support of the entire nation combined with the dedication of the players have once again raised us to the highest level in the world."
Messi also expressed his gratitude to the Argentine people, saying, "I sincerely thank everyone who sent warm greetings and messages," adding, "We have once again united as one and shared the pride of being Argentine." He concluded, "I also want to congratulate Spain, the champions."
Argentina reached the final with dramatic comebacks in this tournament, winning in extra time against Cape Verde in the round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarter-finals, and achieving consecutive finals with comeback wins against Egypt in the round of 16 and England in the semi-finals.
However, they struggled in the final against Spain's tight defense and strong pressure. Argentina failed to record a single shot in 90 minutes, leaving a disgraceful record in World Cup final history. Messi was limited to touching the ball 54 times throughout the game, finishing his 6th World Cup and 3rd final stage with a runner-up.
Messi, the record holder for most World Cup appearances, played in all 8 games of this tournament, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists. With a total of 34 games, 21 goals, and 12 assists in World Cup history, he left another impressive record behind, but ultimately failed to achieve the goal of consecutive titles.