▲ Lionel Messi
The virtually final World Cup for Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami) has ended in tears.
Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain after extra time in the final of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, held today at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
Having led Argentina to victory in the 2022 Qatar tournament, Messi was aiming for a second consecutive title, but he was unable to achieve his goal.
Messi recorded 8 goals and 4 assists in this tournament, leading his team back to the final.
In particular, he displayed a remarkable performance in the semifinal against England, completing a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory with two assists.
However, despite his decisive performances in previous matches, Messi was unable to make his presence felt in the final.
Argentina struggled throughout the match, failing to effectively penetrate the Spanish defense, and eventually conceded the winning goal to Ferran Torres in the second half of extra time.
Messi had only 54 touches on the ball.
Nearly half of those touches occurred during extra time.
He managed only one shot, which did not come until the second half of extra time.
He did not even get the chance to score a goal that would have tied Kylian Mbappe's (France) record for the most goals in World Cup history (22 goals).
It was a match where not only Messi but the entire Argentine attack felt a sense of helplessness.
Argentina set a unique record by failing to register a single shot during the 90 minutes of regulation time, a first in a World Cup final.
Argentina only recorded two shots once the match went into extra time.
Even those were not on target.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said after the match, "The game should have been decided much earlier," adding, "The saves by (Argentina goalkeeper) Emiliano Martinez only delayed our victory."
Messi has now tasted defeat in a World Cup final twice, following the loss to Germany in the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
The Golden Ball (MVP award), which he might have hoped to win, went to Spain's Rodri instead.
The Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer, went to Mbappe, who scored two more goals than Messi.
Nevertheless, Messi was undoubtedly the player who generated the most excitement in this tournament.
From the round of 32 to the final, Argentina either won through comebacks or played through extra time in every match, and Messi was at the center of it all.
He even scored a hat-trick in the group stage match against Algeria.
Messi became the second player in history, following Brazil legend Cafu, to appear in three World Cup finals.
He produced numerous records, including the most total goal contributions in World Cup history (33; 21 goals and 12 assists) and an 11-match streak of goal contributions.
Coincidentally, the final was held at the very same stadium where Messi announced his retirement from the national team at the age of 29 in 2016.
At that time, after losing to Chile in a penalty shootout in the Copa America Centenario final, Messi said, "My career with the national team is over."
Although Messi lifted countless trophies with FC Barcelona, he often struggled when playing for the national team.
He also faced significant criticism from Argentine fans.
However, after returning to the national team, he created an incredible turnaround.
He led Argentina to consecutive titles in the 2021 and 2024 Copa America tournaments.
In the meantime, he also lifted the first World Cup trophy he had longed for at the Qatar World Cup.
Messi now holds the record for over 200 international appearances and the record for the most World Cup appearances with 34 matches.
As he will be in his 40s by the 2030 tournament, it is highly likely that this was his final World Cup.
However, with his contract with Inter Miami running until 2028, there will likely be continued calls for him to play a bit longer for the national team.
After the defeat was confirmed, Messi stared blankly into the distance with red, bloodshot eyes.
He then left the pitch in tears.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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