Lionel Messi congratulated Spain after it beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Spain substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute on Sunday, July 19, securing his country’s second men’s World Cup title.
Messi addressed the defeat in an Instagram post on Monday. The Argentina captain said the loss caused deep pain and that the disappointment would take time to overcome.
The 39-year-old praised Argentina’s campaign, including the matches the team recovered through sustained effort. He also thanked supporters for helping the squad reach another World Cup final.
Messi said the national team had again united Argentina and created pride across the country. He concluded his message by congratulating Spain on winning the championship.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also acknowledged Spain’s superiority. Scaloni said his players had to show the same dignity in defeat that they displayed after victories.
Read: Spain Beat Argentina 1-0 to Win The FIFA World Cup 2026
Argentina entered the match as defending champions after winning the 2022 World Cup, but fell short of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the title
