Soccer-Messi says Argentina's defeat by Spain left immense pain
Lionel Messi expressed deep disappointment following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final. Despite the defeat, he praised his team's effort and thanked the nation for their support throughout the tournament.
Why it matters
As one of the most decorated players in history, Messi's reaction to his final World Cup appearance provides a significant cultural moment for global sports fans.
July 20 (Reuters) - 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.
"The pain is immense and it's going to take a long time for this wound to heal," Messi wrote on social media.
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