When the final whistle sounded at MetLife Stadium, the technical area of Spain was empty. All reserve players and coaching staff members rushed onto the field to celebrate with the playing players.
With Lionel Messi, he was surrounded by many camera and television lenses. The great legend of world football sat down on the field with a pensive face. He took off his shoes and revealed the words "The Last Tango" printed on them. Lively sounds echoed throughout MetLife stadium to share joy with the Spanish team, but somewhere, there were still some sad Tango melodies when fans watched Messi.
Since the knockout round began, Argentina's matches have taken place with a scenario that may be the last time they will play at the 2026 World Cup. Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and then England, all take Argentine fans on emotional roller coasters. But every time, the defending champion has Lionel Messi, who can reverse everything with just a few genius moments.
However, in the final, when El Pulga was completely helpless and had an expected goal score of 0.03, everyone understood that everything had ended for Argentina on a day when their savior did not play football in the true sense.
Messi stands alone, far from the crowd of Spanish and Argentine players who are clashing when the match ends. For the remaining players of Albiceleste, the 2026 World Cup is not their last campaign. As for Messi, no one knows if 4 years later at the age of 43 he can once again appear on the biggest playground on the planet?
Today, we could not play fairly with them" - Coach Lionel Scaloni admitted on a day when the defending champion was completely helpless. Messi only had 1 touch in the first 15 minutes and he finished the match with an expected goal score of 0.03.
A bad match cannot erase Messi's great image. He had all the most brilliant glory in Qatar 4 years ago and this time is just like a transition. The generation of legends like Ronaldo and Messi may stop after the 2026 World Cup, but the legacy they left is forever with the football world. When Rodri stepped onto the podium to receive the World Cup Golden Ball, thousands of fans in the stands of MetLife stadium still chanted Messi's name.
Messi shed tears when tens of thousands of Argentine fans stayed even though their team lost. Messi's jerseys, images of M10 and legend Maradona still appeared densely in the stands. That is the clearest proof of Messi's image in the hearts of home fans. He does not need to win another 2026 World Cup to become great.
Diego Maradona has ended his World Cup journey in the United States and maybe Lionel Messi too. Unlike Maradona, Messi can say goodbye to the World Cup in glory, unlike his predecessor who was involved in many scandals at the end of his career.
When Lionel Messi enters the tunnel, it is an image that can close a great era of the most talented football superstar in nearly 30 years. The World Cup is still held despite the absence of Ronaldo and Messi. However, everyone will no longer see these great monuments step out onto the lawn of the biggest festival on the planet. Their images and contributions will forever be a memory deeply engraved in the memory of fans around the world.
