Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in what is widely believed to have been Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match.
Published On 21 Jul 2026
After what may have been his final World Cup appearance, Messi was overcome with emotion on the field in East Rutherford, New Jersey, lamenting the missed opportunity to secure a second successive title for Argentina.
Without confirming the end of his World Cup career, Messi congratulated Spain for their 1-0 victory and reflected on the lasting memories in an Instagram post on Monday evening.
“The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,” Messi wrote in Spanish alongside a photo of him holding a silver medal.
Nevertheless, I cherish the positive memories—the matches we turned around through relentless effort, the unwavering support of an entire nation, and the collective achievement that restored Argentina to the world’s elite.
While it is difficult to fully grasp our accomplishment at this moment, this team has reached two consecutive World Cup finals.
Argentina overcame France in a penalty shoot‑out after a 3‑3 draw in the 2022 final in Qatar, securing the final major trophy that had eluded Messi throughout his distinguished career.
Argentina emerged as one of the standout teams in the 2026 North American tournament, advancing past England in the semifinal before encountering a Spanish defense that denied them any shots on goal.
Messi turned 39 during the tournament and will be 43 by the time the 2030 World Cup takes place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message,” Messi wrote. “Once again, we united as a nation and shared the immense pride of being Argentine.”
“I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.”
Messi surpassed Miroslav Klose’s all‑time World Cup goal record early in the tournament, finishing with 21 goals before Kylian Mbappé overtook him with 22.
The French star also prevented Messi from claiming the Golden Boot, finishing with 10 goals to Messi’s eight.
ESPN reported on Monday that Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul will miss the next two regular‑season matches and the MLS All‑Star Game as they rest and recover from the World Cup.