Table of Contents
With a World Cup triumph comes two opposite reactions: once-in-a-lifetime euphoria and indescribable heartbreak. For Lionel Messi and Argentina, it was the latter on Sunday afternoon as the team couldn't repeat in a 1-0 Final loss to Spain that might just be Messi's last World Cup match.
Following Argentina's extra-time loss, the Argentinean team, coaches and fans were sad beyond words.
Argentina played a man down from the third minute of stoppage time in the second half on after Cristian Romero was given his second yellow card of the game. Later, Spain scored the only goal of the match in the 106th minute when Ferran Torres found the back of the net.
Argentina had several scoring chances in the waning minutes, as it had two corner kicks, two free kicks and one throw-in over the final five minutes of the second extra-time period, but it couldn't punch through.
Later, during the postgame ceremony, Messi let it all out.
If this is the end of the line for Messi's World Cup career, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 13-time Domestic League champion ends it with 21 combined goals and 12 assists across six World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026).
Argentina, which won the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América, reached the World Cup final for the third time in the last four tournaments this year, while Spain has won its second consecutive major tournament, as it previously won Euro 2024. This is Spain's second ever World Cup win, its last coming in 2010.
share
recommended
2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Race Tracker: Mbappé Goes Back-To-Back
What Do The World Cup Third-Place Winners Get?
Expert World Cup Predictions For The Spain-Argentina Final
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Final This Sunday
How to Watch Mbappe and France vs. England: TV Channel, Live Stream, Live
France vs. England Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match
Move Over, Messi! Kylian Mbappé Breaks All-Time Record For World Cup Goals
Lionel Messi Tells Tom Brady 'Crazy' Story Behind Viral Lamine Yamal Baby Photoshoot
Top 50 Players From The 2026 World Cup Ahead Of The Final
Arrow pointing to the leftArrow pointing to the right
Item 1 of 3 
Get more from the FIFA Men's World Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic 
FIFA Men's World Cup 
Lionel Messi 
Argentina 
Spain 
Lamine Yamal WC – Spain vs. Argentina – 07/19/2026
NEXT STORY
How to Watch the World Cup Today: Schedule, Times, TV, Streaming for Bronze Final
recommended
2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Race Tracker: Mbappé Goes Back-To-Back
What Do The World Cup Third-Place Winners Get?
Expert World Cup Predictions For The Spain-Argentina Final
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Final This Sunday
How to Watch Mbappe and France vs. England: TV Channel, Live Stream, Live
France vs. England Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match
Move Over, Messi! Kylian Mbappé Breaks All-Time Record For World Cup Goals
Lionel Messi Tells Tom Brady 'Crazy' Story Behind Viral Lamine Yamal Baby Photoshoot
Top 50 Players From The 2026 World Cup Ahead Of The Final
Arrow pointing to the leftArrow pointing to the right
Item 1 of 3Original Article
