Argentina captain Lionel Messi reflected on what could be his final FIFA World Cup appearance after his side lost to Spain in the 2026 final, saying the disappointment of defeat would take time to overcome.
“The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,” Messi wrote in an Instagram post on Monday, while thanking supporters for their backing throughout the tournament.
How did Argentina’s World Cup campaign end?
Argentina finished runners-up after losing to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.
The defending champions reached a second consecutive World Cup final after defeating England in the semifinals but were unable to break down Spain’s defence, failing to register a shot on target during the final.
Did Messi indicate whether he will retire from the World Cup?
Messi did not confirm his international retirement or state whether the 2026 tournament was his final World Cup.
The 39-year-old instead focused on Argentina’s achievement of reaching back-to-back World Cup finals and thanked fans for their continued support.
“I hold onto all the good things… We managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine,” he wrote.
How did Messi perform during the tournament?
Messi became the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer during the tournament by surpassing Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals.
He finished the 2026 World Cup with 21 career World Cup goals before being overtaken by France’s Kylian Mbappé, who ended the tournament with 22 goals and also claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Messi scored eight goals during the competition.
What comes next for Messi?
According to ESPN, Messi and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul will miss Inter Miami’s next two Major League Soccer regular-season matches as well as the MLS All-Star Game to recover after the World Cup.
Messi will be 43 years old when the next FIFA World Cup is held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030, leaving uncertainty over whether he will feature in another edition of the tournament.