Messi’s World Cup farewell ends in tears after Spain masterclass

Lionel Messi's dream of winning a second World Cup ended in heartbreak as Argentina fell to a masterclass performance by Spain in the 2026 final. The emotional image of the Argentina captain gazing at the trophy after the match captured the conclusion of a remarkable, yet ultimately unfulfilled, chapter in his career.

Argentina, the defending champions, delivered a performance far below expectations. They spent much of the match defending against a dominant Spanish side, who secured their second World Cup title. The final saw Argentina and Messi endure a night of unwanted records, becoming the first team in World Cup history to finish a final without registering a shot on target or an attempt during the entire 90 minutes.

This runner-up finish marked Argentina's fourth in World Cup history, a record surpassed only by Germany's number of second-place finishes. Messi himself had a quiet start, touching the ball only once in the opening 15 minutes. He finished the match with a rating of 7, his lowest World Cup score since Argentina's 3-0 defeat by Croatia in the 2018 group stage.

The 39-year-old also missed the opportunity to reclaim the record for the most goals in World Cup history. He ended the tournament with 21 goals, one behind France star Kylian Mbappe, who moved to the top of the list with 22 goals. Messi's final World Cup appearance also saw him become the oldest outfield player ever to feature in and lose a World Cup final.