Just one day after Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, Lionel Messi shared his regrets but also affirmed his pride in what the whole team has shown.
In the final match held at MetLife Stadium (USA) on July 20, Argentina could not defend the championship when they lost to Spain after 120 minutes of play. Striker Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute, bringing the second world title in history for the bullfighting team.
After the match, Messi wrote: "The pain is so great and this wound needs time to heal.
Despite being disappointed at missing the opportunity to defend the throne, the Argentine captain still emphasized the values that the team has built throughout the journey at the 2026 World Cup.
He shared: "I also appreciate all the good things. The matches where we reversed the situation, dedicated ourselves wholeheartedly, things that will forever be deeply engraved in memory, the support of a whole country, along with the efforts and endeavors of the whole team have brought us back to the top position in the world. It is difficult to fully assess what we have achieved, but this team has reached the World Cup final twice in a row".
Messi also sent thanks to Argentine fans for their companionship throughout the tournament.
I sincerely thank you for all the congratulations and messages. Once again, we have united as a nation and shared the great pride of being Argentinians," the 39-year-old superstar wrote.
Closing the message, Messi sent congratulations to Spain after winning the 2026 World Cup.
Please congratulate Spain on winning the championship," he messaged.
Messi's message quickly attracted millions of interactions on Instagram. Many fans gave words of encouragement and expressed their respect for the fighting spirit as well as the Argentina captain's behavior after the defeat.
World Cup 2026 is also likely to be the last time Messi participates in the biggest football festival on the planet. Before the final, he posted a photo with the message "The Last Tango" along with a photo of him wearing the Argentine national flag and special edition shoes, sparking many speculations about ending his international playing career after the tournament.
