Argentina had a golden opportunity to join Italy and Brazil by winning back-to-back FIFA World Cups, but they failed to turn that ambition into reality against a dominant Spanish side. The defeat marked a tearful farewell to the World Cup for legendary captain Lionel Messi.
After hanging the runners-up medal around his neck, Messi walked down from the podium toward the Argentine supporters, where the overwhelming weight of heartbreak finally spilled over into tears.
The Argentine captain broke down in tears right on the pitch. In this blockbuster clash against Spain, the skipper was largely quiet as his side failed to find the back of the net over 120 minutes.
This tournament in America was almost certainly Messi's last. The emotional aftermath following the final whistle all but confirmed it.
When the final whistle blew, he collapsed to the turf, covering his face with both hands as neither teammates nor opponents could easily console him.
After composing himself to collect his runners-up medal, the emotional pressure of the moment proved simply too much for the greatest player of all time. Just minutes before Spain lifted the trophy, he broke down once more.
While Messi may continue playing for Inter Miami, his days of representing his country at the highest level have all but come to an end, as he will be 43 years old by the time the next World Cup arrives.
This marked Messi's third World Cup final. Four years ago in Qatar, he famously raised the trophy for his country, following a runners-up finish in 2014 after a defeat to Germany.
Messi's World Cup Performance at a Glance
Across 6 FIFA World Cups, Messi made 34 appearances, scoring 21 goals with 12 assists, capturing 1 championship title and 2 runners-up medals.
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