Lionel Messi has broken his silence following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, an outcome that left the forward visibly emotional on the pitch.
Messi was aiming to secure a second consecutive World Cup title for Argentina but the team fell short in the final match. The game was marked by controversy, with an investigation reportedly underway into Argentina's conduct after the full-time whistle. During the match, Messi attempted to get Spain's Marc Cucurella penalized for an action in the second half, but his appeal was unsuccessful.
"The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal," Messi stated in a social media post. "But I also hold onto all the good things. The matches we turned around by giving it our all—moments that will remain in our memories forever—and the support of an entire country which, combined with this group's hard work and effort, brought us back among the world's elite once again."
He continued, "It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship."
Argentina's squad drew criticism for turning their backs to the celebrating Spanish team as they lifted the World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium. Footage showed the Argentine players, coaching staff, and personnel facing their own fans at the opposite end of the stadium while Spain's victory celebration took place.
Following the match, Messi and his teammates declined to speak to the media. Argentina registered only two shots during the entire game, with their first attempt on goal occurring in the 117th minute.