Lionel MessiHopes of lifting another World Cup trophy ended in disappointment as Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final. For those who didn’t know, Ferran Torres scored the crucial goal in extra time to leave Messi and his team heartbroken.
The final was very tense, and Argentina once again facing criticism over several disciplinary incidents during the tournament. Confusion deepened after the final whistle when a scuffle between players saw Leandro Paredes sent off. Messi also found himself involved in a controversial moment during the match. During the regular stoppage, the cameras showed Spain defender Marc Cucurella covering his mouth while talking. Messi then approached referee Slavko Vincic and appeared to beg the official to intervene, pointing to FIFA’s guidelines on players covering their mouths during heated exchanges.
The incident went viral on social media, with many defending Cucurella and saying she wasn’t trying to hide inappropriate comments. Former England players Wayne RooneyMicah Richards, and Joe Hart criticized Messi’s actions.
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I still can’t get past Messi trying to get Cucurella red carded for this. pic.twitter.com/iGFTg2Opnf
– Lucas Navarrete (@LucasNavarreteM) July 20, 2026
Rooney told the BBC, “Argentina play that way, we know that’s what they do. But one thing you want is a good performance, and it was sad to see Lionel Messi do that.”
“We don’t want to see people being kicked out of the World Cup final for that,” said Richards. “Oh wow! wow! Yeah, I didn’t enjoy that at all from Lionel Messi. You realize how high Spain is when even Lionel Messi repeats that,” Hart said.
Messi breaks his silence
Following FIFA World Cup final, Messi shared a message on Instagram expressing his sadness over his team’s loss and congratulating Spain on their victory.
He wrote, “The pain is great, and it will take time for this injury to heal. But I also hold on to all the best. The matches we turned around, giving all our strength, the matches that will remain in our memories, the support of the whole country which, together with the hard work and dedication of this group, led us to be, once again, among the best in the world. Today it is difficult, but to fully appreciate what we achieved in the finals of two consecutive World Cups.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and be together, sharing the great pride of being Argentine citizens. I also want to congratulate Spain for winning the championship,” he added.
Messi’s FIFA World Cup journey
Messi’s FIFA World Cup journey spanned six tournaments over two decades, including an early heartbreak, a glorious redemption in 2022, and a run to the finals in 2026. In his 34 tournament appearances, he recorded 21 goals and 12 assists.
He said Messi is registered Inter Miamiwho participates in the Major League Soccer (MLS). He joined the club in 2023 and will play until December 2028.
