Messi breaks silence after World Cup final loss, congratulates Spain

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has broken his silence following the team's heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The Inter Miami FC forward admitted the loss would be difficult to overcome but expressed pride in his team's journey and achievements. In a post on his Instagram page, Messi described the pain of losing the final as immense, stating it would be hard to close that wound. However, he emphasized cherishing the positive aspects of the tournament, highlighting the team's effort and the support from the entire country that propelled them to be among the world's best once again. He acknowledged the collective effort and pride of being Argentinian. Messi lauded his teammates for reaching back-to-back World Cup finals, a feat not achieved by a men's team since Brazil in 1998. Despite falling short of retaining the title won in Qatar in 2022, he praised the group for their dedication and hard work throughout the tournament. He thanked Argentinians for their unwavering support, noting how the team managed to unite the country. Concluding his message, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner extended congratulations to Spain on their World Cup triumph. Spain secured their second World Cup title with Ferran Torres' extra-time winner in a match where Argentina struggled to create clear-cut chances, with their first shot on target occurring in the 117th minute.

“

The pain is so great, and it’s going to be hard for me to close this wound. But I’ll keep all the good stuff too… With the matches we turned leaving everything and that will remain forever in the memory, with the support of an entire country that together with the work and effort of this group led us to be, once again, among the best in the world.