Lionel Messi’s dream of becoming champion for the second consecutive time was shattered with the 0-1 defeat at the hands of Spain in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Before the match, apart from his fans sitting in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, millions of fans in every corner of the world who were watching the TV late at night had only one name on their lips… Messi, but at the last stage of his golden journey in the World Cup, their favorite star vanished.
Spain won the title by defeating Argentina on the basis of a goal by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute of the game. The European giant snatched the reign of world football from the South American giants. Messi’s Argentina, which entered the final with the dream of becoming the first team after Brazil (1958 and 1962) to win two consecutive titles, did not look in its style and had to face defeat.
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Messi started crying in front of fans
At the final whistle, everyone saw the tears in Messi’s eyes and the disappointment on his face. On one side, the Spanish players were celebrating, while on the other side, Messi and his team were thanking Argentina’s supporters at the southern end of the stadium and perhaps even apologizing. Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title win against France and the Copa America title twice, stood stunned with his head bowed and his hands on his waist after Spain’s goal.
When Messi retired from European football and moved to MLS three years ago after winning 12 league titles and four Champions League titles with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, people thought he would retire and settle in America, but he once again took Argentina to the World Cup final, scoring eight goals and four assists. He has 21 goals in the World Cup and was on top until he was overtaken by France’s Kylian Mbappe (22 goals) in the third place match on Saturday.
Also read: Argentina team distraught after losing in the final, beat Spanish players fiercely, VIDEO
Messi’s failed attempt to hide his grief
Messi, who became the first player to play from the opening minutes in three World Cup finals, has 125 international goals in his name and is behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (146). Messi, who was in the league of Pele and Maradona, had retired from international football after the shootout defeat against Chile in the 2016 Copa America final but returned after 47 days and led Argentina to the World Cup for the third time in 2022.
The Spanish players came to console Messi after the final whistle. Messi sat on the field and kept staring at him with his hands behind his back. When he came to collect the runner-up medal, he tried to smile but failed. Then, lost in his thoughts and trying to hide his sadness, he quietly walked out of an exit in a corner of the grounds. Probably the last time from the World Cup.
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