Messi admits the pain of Argentina failing to defend their World Cup title is hard to bear.

In the 2026 World Cup final, Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain in extra time, failing to defend their title.

After the match, Argentina captain Lionel Messi expressed his regret over the defeat on social media, while also thanking the team for their efforts and the fans for their support.

Facing the defeat in the final, the 39-year-old Messi admitted: "The pain is immense, and this wound will take a long time to heal. But I will cherish all the good memories, the support of the whole country, and the hard work and fighting spirit of the team that brought us back to the top of the world."

While congratulating the champion Spanish team, Messi also expressed his pride in the team reaching the World Cup final for the second consecutive time, adding: "We have once again successfully united as a nation and shared the pride of being Argentinians."

This final was Messi's third World Cup final, making him the second male player after Brazilian legend Cafu to achieve this feat.

Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America titles, and the UEFA Europa League. Although he failed to win a second World Cup trophy with the team, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner remains the most iconic figure in Argentine football history.

Image source: Internet/BBC official website