Lionel Messi has expressed gratitude to Argentina supporters following the national team’s 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, acknowledging the pain of defeat while highlighting the squad’s achievements.
In a heartfelt message, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reflected on the emotional toll. “The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal,” Messi said. “But I also choose to hold on to all the good moments.”
He praised the team’s resilience and unity. “The matches we fought back to win by giving everything we had will remain forever in our memories,” Messi added. “The support of an entire nation, together with the hard work and dedication of this group, helped us once again become one of the best teams in the world.”
The Argentina captain noted the historic run. “Today, it’s difficult to appreciate what we achieved, but this group reached two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals,” he said.
Messi also congratulated Spain on their victory while thanking fans for their support. “I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship,” he stated. “Once again, we managed to unite as a country, standing together and sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.”
