Argentina’s Lionel Messi with the runners-up medal as he appears dejected after the Fifa World Cup 2026 Closing Spain towards Argentina match, New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US, July 19, 2026. — Reuters
After what could have been his last World Cup match, Lionel Messi was in tears on the sphere Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, ruing a missed likelihood to win a second consecutive title for Argentina.
Messi, with out hinting whether or not his World Cup profession was formally via, congratulated Spain and mentioned the recollections will final in an Instagram submit Monday.
“The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,” Messi wrote in his native Spanish alongside a photograph of him bearing a silver medal. “But I also hold onto all the good things… The matches we turned around by giving it our all—moments that will remain in our memories forever—and the support of an entire country which, combined with this group’s hard work and effort, brought us back among the world’s elite once again. It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals.”
Argentina defeated France on penalty kicks following a 3-3 draw within the 2022 last in Qatar, incomes the final piece of main {hardware} Messi had but to win in his illustrious profession.
Argentina had been as soon as once more among the finest groups within the 2026 event in North America. They rallied previous England within the semifinals earlier than developing towards a Spanish defence that held them with no shot on aim.
Messi turned 39 in the course of the event and can flip 43 in the course of the 2030 World Cup to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message,” Messi wrote. “Once again, we managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.
“I additionally need to congratulate Spain on profitable the championship.”
Messi broke Miroslav Klose’s document of 16 all-time World Cup targets early within the event, and he completed with 21, although he was caught and surpassed by Kylian Mbappe (22). The French star additionally denied Messi a Golden Boot, ending with 10 targets to the Argentine’s eight.
ESPN reported Monday that Messi and his nationwide group and membership teammate Rodrigo De Paul is not going to play the following two regular-season matches for Inter Miami, nor take part within the MLS All-Star Recreation, as they relaxation and get better from the World Cup.
