Sports psychologist explains Messi's tears and Argentina's World Cup final loss

Following Argentina's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, sports psychologist Adriel offered an analysis of Lionel Messi's emotional display, particularly his tears shed in front of the Argentine fans. Adriel suggested that Messi's visible vulnerability should not be mistaken for weakness. Instead, he posited that the team's capacity for sensitivity, exemplified by Messi's tears, allows them to forge a strong connection with their supporters and fuels their performance on the field.

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I think it's fantastic, what Scaloni and Messi did, a sensitive team. Sensitive doesn't mean weak, it means it feels. Thanks to that sensitivity, they can connect with people like that, they can give what they give on the field, and I think it's perfect. I think it was necessary for Messi to do that.

"I think it's fantastic, what Scaloni and Messi did, a sensitive team. Sensitive doesn't mean weak, it means it feels. Thanks to that sensitivity, they can connect with people like that, they can give what they give on the field, and I think it's perfect. I think it was necessary for Messi to do that," Adriel stated in a communication with LN+.

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We are great in victory and we have to be great in defeat; we are showing today that we know how to lose.

Adriel also commended coach Lionel Scaloni, describing him as an ideal leadership model due to his approachability, active listening, and decisive nature. Scaloni himself reinforced this sentiment during the post-match press conference, stating, "We are great in victory and we have to be great in defeat; we are showing today that we know how to lose." The psychologist advised that the team should undergo a period of reflection with room for error before drawing hasty conclusions from the loss.

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From the mental, from the morale, the adrenaline, which also translates into a lot of physical fatigue, few recovery days, and well, the England match with everything that surrounded it, extra-football issues.

Regarding the team's preparation, Adriel noted that prior matches, including those against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland, were psychologically taxing, leading to physical fatigue and limited recovery time. He suggested that Argentina may have inadvertently fallen into a trap of complacency, believing the victory was assured. Furthermore, he observed that Spain appeared to possess greater physical freshness, while Argentina contended with the lingering effects of external pressures and a demanding schedule, indicating that fatigue played a significant role despite the players' best intentions.

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The team unintentionally fell into the trap of thinking that it was already done.