A visibly emotional Lionel Messi was seen in tears on the field after Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, marking a poignant end to what is widely expected to be his final tournament appearance for his country.
Messi, 39, was unable to find the back of the net during the 120 minutes of play in the New Jersey showdown. The defeat means Argentina finished as runners-up, with Spain securing the victory with the game's only goal scored deep into extra time.
This World Cup final appearance was Messi's third, adding to his history in the tournament's biggest match. He was part of the Argentina team that won the World Cup in Qatar four years prior, and also played in the 2014 final in Brazil, where Germany defeated his team in extra time.
Given that the next World Cup will take place when Messi is 43, his participation in future tournaments is highly unlikely. While he is expected to continue his club career with Inter Miami, Sunday's emotional display suggests his international career at the highest level has concluded.
The match itself saw a largely ineffectual performance from the Argentina captain, who has spent a significant portion of his career playing for Barcelona. The team struggled offensively throughout the final, failing to score against a resolute Spanish defense.
Following the final whistle, Messi dropped to the ground, covering his face and appearing inconsolable amidst teammates and opponents. The weight of the moment, and the likely end of his World Cup journey, became evident as he collected his runner-up medal just before Spain was presented with the trophy.