‘The pain is immense’: Lionel Messi breaks his silence after Argentina’s World Cup loss to Spain

BUENOS AIRES – 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 them.

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the July 19 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.

“But I’ll also hold on to all the good memories… the support of an entire country which, together with the hard work and effort of this squad, led us to be, once again, amongst the best in the world.”

Messi, 39, also congratulated Spain and said Argentina could take pride in reaching consecutive World Cup finals. He became only the second man, after Brazil’s Cafu, to appear in three World Cup finals, having played in the deciders in 2014, 2022 and 2026.

The Inter Miami forward remains Argentina’s most decorated player, having led them to the 2022 World Cup, Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima.

He is also an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers.

“Once again, we managed to come together as a country and stand united, sharing the immense pride of being Argentinian,” Messi added.

Meanwhile, thousands of fans braved the cold and rain on July 20 to give a rapturous welcome to the team who landed back home without Messi.

It was not the homecoming Argentinians had hoped for, four years after millions celebrated their victory in 2022, but fresh scenes of joyful chaos filled the streets as they danced, sang and set off fireworks to thank the players.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said earlier that some squad members would not be on the flight and Messi was not seen descending from the aircraft in images broadcast on local television.

Coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team were welcomed with a red carpet outside the aircraft and a military band. They then boarded a bus, waving to frenzied fans along the way.

Despite falling short of a second straight championship, “Argentinians will celebrate anyway,” said housewife Marga Ledezma, 36.

She thanked Messi for “all the years he made us happy”, urging him not to quit playing for Argentina, but admitting this would be difficult as he was 39.

Many fans highlighted that the real victory for Argentina was the 2-1 semi-final win over England, played against the backdrop of a lingering dispute between the countries over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Some carried flags declaring “The Falklands are Argentinian”.

FIFA is investigating the team after players held up a banner bearing the phrase after their win against England sparked a backlash from London.

“This team united us all and we should be grateful for that. We will always be there for them, rain or shine,” said Leonardo Barrientos, 36, who works in a textile workshop. “I would say thank you to Messi and that he gave it his all.”

Maria Ortiz, 28, came to welcome the team with her two-year-old and said Spain “deserved the win” but she was “happy for what the team gave us”.

With the tournament over, Argentinian President Javier Milei announced that a future date agreed with the team would be set as a public holiday to celebrate their performance in the World Cup. No further details were announced.

While crestfallen after the loss, thousands of fans headed to the traditional celebration point at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires where they partied for hours on July 19.

Late at night, brief clashes broke out at the monument and police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse revellers. Fifteen people were detained, according to police sources.
AFP, REUTERS