World Cup: Messi thanks Argentina fans but ‘wound will take time to heal’

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported that Lionel Messi thanked Argentina supporters after the national team’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match, played Sunday, may have been Messi’s last appearance at a World Cup, though he did not confirm whether he is retiring from the tournament. In an Instagram post on Monday, he congratulated Spain and said Argentina’s disappointment would take time to overcome.

Messi was shown emotional after the loss, which ended Argentina’s bid to win back-to-back world titles following its 2022 triumph over France in Qatar. He said the team should still value its run to a second consecutive final and pointed to the support of fans across Argentina. Al Jazeera reported that Argentina had advanced through the 2026 tournament in North America, including a semifinal comeback against England, before being held without a shot on goal by Spain’s defence in the final.

The report noted the broader significance for Messi’s career. He turned 39 during the tournament and would be 43 by the time of the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. During the 2026 event, Messi passed Miroslav Klose’s previous World Cup goals record of 16 and finished with 21, but France’s Kylian Mbappe overtook him with 22 and also won the Golden Boot with 10 goals to Messi’s eight.

Al Jazeera also cited an ESPN report saying Messi and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul would miss Inter Miami’s next two regular-season matches and the MLS All-Star Game to rest after the World Cup.