Messi admits pain after final, FIFA takes action against…

Messi admits pain after final, FIFA takes action against Argentina

21.07.2026 12:01 HotInfo

The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico ended for Argentina with a 0:1 defeat to Spain in the final. Lionel Messi, who led the defending champions into another final after the semi-final comeback against England, left after the match without making any statement and only reacted on social media about 18 hours later. zurnal.pravda.sk ↗

Argentina's thirty-nine-year-old captain wrote that the defeat is painful and that the wound will take a long time to heal. At the same time, he congratulated Spain on the title and urged the team to also hold on to the positive moments from the championship. The tournament was Messi's sixth World Cup; he took the field in the final as the oldest outfield player and scored eight goals during the tournament. teraz.sk ↗

After their triumph over England, Argentina attempted to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend their world title, but they fell short in the final. After the match, attention also turned to incidents on the pitch. FIFA's disciplinary committee opened proceedings against Argentina over events after the final whistle, with media reports mentioning Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina. Der Standard ↗

In Buenos Aires, thousands of fans waited for the national team's return despite the rain. The Argentine Football Association had already announced in advance that some members of the squad would not be on board, and Messi was not visible in the television footage of the arrival either. Further developments will depend mainly on FIFA's decision and on how Argentina closes out the era following a tournament that may have been Messi's last World Cup. STVR (Spravy) ↗

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