- Lionel Messi concluded his 20-year international career with Argentina at the age of 39, following a heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
- Messi expressed immense pain over the defeat but emphasized his pride in uniting the country, while firmly dismissing any bitterness by congratulating Spain.
- Despite the loss, he finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,Argentina captain Lionel Messi broke his silence regarding his team’s heartbreaking defeat, clearing the air on his emotional state and his feelings toward the new world champions, Spain.
Messi concluded his 20-year international journey with La Albiceleste after a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the tournament’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The match marked the end of an era for the 39-year-old maestro, who made his debut in 2005 and memorably guided Argentina to Copa América glory, the Finalissima, and World Cup triumph in 2022, alongside an incredible final run in 2026.
Addressing the public through a message on his Instagram page, Messi emphasized his love for his country and expressed his profound pride that this generation of players had once again united the nation.
ALSO READ Spain vs Argentina: La Roja stun 10-man Argentina to win 2026 World Cup title
In his emotional address, Messi looked back on the tournament with gratitude and spoke openly about the reality of the defeat.
“The pain is immense, it will take time for this wound to heal. But I also choose to hold on to all the good things, all matches we turned around by giving everything and moments that will remain in our memories forever.”
He further dismissed any notion of bitterness reassuring the public that his relationship remains completely grounded in respect by acknowledging the victors.
Expressing his desire to see his country remain proud of the team’s immense achievement, Messi confidently stated:
“Today, it is difficult to appreciate what we achieved,but this group has really reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message.
Once again, we managed to come together as a country and stand united, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning World Cup.”
Lionel Messi stats
By reaching the final in New York, Messi became only the second men’s player in football history to feature in three separate World Cup Final matches (2014, 2022, 2026), matching the milestone set by Brazilian legend Cafu.
Furthermore, at 39 years and 25 days old, he departs the global stage as the second-oldest World Cup finalist ever, trailing only Italy’s legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff from the 1982 tournament.
Though Spain ultimately took home the trophy, Messi’s individual tournament numbers remained impressive finishing the competition with 8 goals and 4 assists.