Read 3 minutes20 Jul 2026 11:43 PM IST
Argentina legend Lionel Messi said it will take time to heal from losing the World Cup final to Spain, as he thanked his teammates and everyone who supported the team throughout the tournament. He also congratulated Spain for winning the World Cup.
“The pain is great, this wound will take time to heal. But I also choose to hold on to all the good things, all the matches we gave everything and moments that will remain in our memories. I will always remember the support of the whole country which, with the work and effort of this group, brought us back to the best teams in the world once again,” Messi posted on Instagram on Monday.
“It’s difficult today to appreciate what we’ve achieved… but this group has really reached two World Cup finals in a row. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every wish and every message. Once again, we’ve managed to stand together as a country, proud to be Argentina. I want to congratulate Spain for winning the World Cup,” he added.
On Sunday, Messi received the FIFA World Cup 2026 runner-up silver medals from the President of the United States. Donald Trump After a memorable evening against Spain at MetLife Stadium. The highs of a 2022 victory were quickly erased as he exited the podium. The Argentina talisman broke down in tears as he said goodbye before walking down the players’ tunnel.
Messi’s forgettable night effectively illustrated Argentina’s woes against Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish unit. A 106th-minute strike from Ferran Torres was the only goal to show for their dominance in the final, but it ensured Argentina didn’t have a shot on target for 120 minutes.
“I feel bad, but I know we played with our hearts,” Messi told reporters after the defeat. “It was good to be honest. We lost the game and we accepted it. It doesn’t mean we forget what we have done so far, so I want to thank my people, my players and the country.”