Lionel Messi has broken his silence after Argentina’s painful defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
A day after Argentina failed to retain the trophy, Messi admitted that the loss had left him deeply hurt. However, he said he remained proud of the team’s journey, fighting spirit and achievement of reaching two consecutive World Cup finals.
Messi also thanked Argentine fans for their constant support and congratulated Spain on winning the title.
Argentina entered the tournament as defending champions and produced several memorable performances during the knockout stages.
They came back from two goals down to defeat Egypt in the Round of 16 and later staged another dramatic comeback against England in the semi-final.
However, Spain, led by coach Luis de la Fuente, ended Argentina’s title defence with a strong performance in the final.
“The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal. But I also hold on to all the good things,” Messi wrote in an Instagram post.
He recalled the matches Argentina turned around through determination and teamwork, saying those moments would remain in the memories of the players and supporters forever.
Messi said the support of the entire country, along with the team’s hard work, helped Argentina once again finish among the best sides in the world.
“Today, it is difficult to fully appreciate what we achieved, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals,” he said.
The Argentina captain thanked fans for their messages and said the team had once again united the country through football.
He also congratulated Spain on becoming world champions.
Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute at the New York New Jersey Stadium, helping Spain secure their second FIFA World Cup title.
The victory also extended Spain’s unbeaten run to a European-record 38 matches.
