Spain defeats Argentina in 2026 World Cup final; Messi accepts defeat gracefully

Lionel Messi collected the runners-up medal from US President Donald Trump after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The 39-year-old captain, who led Argentina to victory in 2022, was visibly emotional as he left the pitch.

Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute, securing Spain's third World Cup title. Argentina, despite being the defending champions, failed to register a single shot on target during the 120 minutes of play.

Speaking after the match, Messi acknowledged Spain's superiority. 'They were better, to be honest. We lost the game, and we accept that,' he said. 'I feel sad, but I am aware that we played our hearts out.'

Messi, who appeared in his record third World Cup final, finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, second only to France's Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Ball race. His overall World Cup goal tally now stands at 21, behind Mbappe's 22.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi's impact. 'He's the best football player ever stepping foot on a pitch,' he said. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente revealed that neutralising Messi was a primary objective. 'The first idea was to keep Messi at bay,' he stated.

Messi's future with the national team remains uncertain. However, his campaign in the United States set new records, including becoming the oldest player to score in a World Cup final. The defeat also meant Argentina failed to become the first team to defend the title since Brazil in 1962.