Argentina's Messi and team boycott media after World Cup final loss

The Argentinian national football team made a striking decision to boycott media interviews immediately following their heartbreaking World Cup final loss to Spain. The team bus departed the MetLife Stadium nearly two hours after the final whistle, with no players stopping for the press in the designated mixed zone.

Captain Lionel Messi, visibly emotional and in tears after the match, offered no comment on his future. The 39-year-old midfielder's participation in this tournament was widely speculated to be his last, and many had anticipated his reflections on his illustrious career. Messi had been the tournament's top scorer until Saturday, and his silence left many questions unanswered.

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The guys didn't want to talk right now, and that's completely understandable.

Spain secured their second World Cup title with a single goal in the 106th minute, a strike from substitute Ferran Torres. The dominant Spanish side registered 20 shots, while Argentina failed to hit the target even once. Kylian Mbappe of France, who scored a brace in the third-place playoff, secured the FIFA 2026 Golden Boot and became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

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I have no doubt that he is the best footballer ever to step onto a pitch.

The only Argentinian representative to speak with the media was head coach Lionel Scaloni. At the post-match press conference, Scaloni defended his players' decision, stating, "The guys didn't want to talk right now, and that's completely understandable." He lauded Messi's performance throughout the tournament and acknowledged the legend's potential retirement. "I have no doubt that he is the best footballer ever to step onto a pitch," Scaloni stated, expressing hope that everyone appreciates Messi's achievements.

Scaloni also addressed his own future, with his contract set to expire at the end of the year. "I will talk to the president of the Argentine Football Association, but more or less I know what I would like to do," he said. "I will finish my contract, and then we'll see. Frankly, I feel I need to reflect on everything, because I don't know if we could achieve something as great again." He expressed gratitude for the opportunity and indicated a need for personal reflection before deciding on his next steps.

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I will talk to the president of the Argentine Football Association, but more or less I know what I would like to do.