Lionel Messi left in 'immense pain' after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain
Lionel Messi expressed deep disappointment following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Despite the defeat, Messi praised his team's effort and the national unity displayed throughout the tournament.
Why it matters
The result marks a significant moment in football history, as Spain prevented Argentina from securing back-to-back World Cup titles.
Football World Championship Lionel Messi left in 'immense pain' after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain Lionel Messi left in 'immense pain' after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain Reuters Lionel Messi was in tears after the result ČTK / AP / Stephanie Scarbrough Lionel Messi said Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain had left "immense" pain but praised his team for reaching a second successive final and thanked supporters for uniting behind the national side.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday's final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to deny the 2022 champions back-to-back World Cup titles.
The result ended Argentina's bid to become the first men's team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.
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