Messi expresses ‘immense pain’ after Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain

By Rohan Gupta — 20 July 2026 — 4 min read

Messi’s Reaction to World Cup Final Loss

Lionel Messi has described the pain of Argentina‘s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final as “immense,” stating that the wound will require time to heal. The final match saw Ferran Torres score the decisive goal in extra time, securing Spain‘s second World Cup title and ending Argentina‘s defence of the championship they won in 2022. This marks Messi‘s second loss in a World Cup final, with the first being Argentina‘s 1-0 defeat to Germany in 2014.

At an age where he is unlikely to participate in the 2030 tournament, Messi has not yet made an announcement regarding his future in international football. He conveyed his feelings on social media, acknowledging the immense pain but also reflecting on the positive aspects of their journey. He highlighted the matches where the team demonstrated their full effort, creating memorable moments, and the unwavering support from their country, which helped elevate them back to the global elite.

Messi noted the difficulty in fully appreciating their achievement immediately after the loss, but emphasised that the team reached two consecutive World Cup finals. He extended his gratitude for the messages of support and congratulations to Spain on their victory. Throughout the tournament, Messi was a key contributor, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as Argentina advanced to their third final in the last four World Cups.

His crucial role was evident in guiding his team through comeback victories against Egypt and England in the knockout stages. However, they were unable to overcome a Spain side that conceded only one goal throughout the entire tournament.

Spain’s Celebrations and Tournament Dominance

Spain‘s victory marked their second World Cup title. The winning goal, scored by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute, was a moment of liberation for the team. Rodrigo Hernández, who was present for Spain‘s first World Cup win in 2010, celebrated this second triumph by lifting the trophy after the match. He also received the award for the tournament’s best player. Other individual accolades included Pau Cubarsí winning the young player award and Unai Simón receiving the Golden Glove.

Each Spain player received a replica World Cup trophy in a Louis Vuitton trunk, along with a Lego version. The celebrations in the dressing room were brief, as the team had a flight scheduled for 11pm to return to Spain. Players like Nico Williams shared their medals with family, while Lamine Yamal embraced Lionel Messi, an interaction described as a significant moment.

Spain‘s dominance in the final was notable, with Torres‘s goal being their 20th shot of the match. Argentina, in contrast, did not manage a single shot on target throughout the game, with their first attempt coming in the 115th minute. This performance highlighted Spain‘s defensive strength, as they had an expected goals against (xG against) of 0.3 per game for the entire tournament. Unai Simón commented that his gloves had little work to do, while Aymeric Laporte noted that Spain did not overly rely on their back line.

The Coach’s Journey and Team Unity

The triumph was attributed to the collective effort of the team and the vision of coach Luis de la Fuente. His coaching journey began in the third tier with Deportivo Alavés, where he coached for 11 games. After a period of unemployment, he joined the Spanish federation’s youth system, coaching the under-17s, and winning the European Championship with the under-19s and under-21s. He then led the senior side to a European Championship before securing the World Cup.

De la Fuente‘s leadership was praised by players, with Simón calling him outstanding. Marc Cucurella, who had promised to get a tattoo of De la Fuente‘s face if Spain won, was contemplating the placement of the tattoo. The coach jokingly acknowledged the promise, highlighting the commitment of his players, many of whom he had coached at junior levels, including Rodrigo Hernández, who played under him in the Under-19 Euros in 2015.

The team’s unity and hard work, built over 51 days, culminated in this victory in New York. The celebrations, though brief, marked a significant achievement for Spain, adding another major title to their history.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter