Argentina’s defence of the World Cup ended in the 106th minute at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, when substitute Ferran Torres smashed a left-footed shot under the crossbar to give Spain a 1-0 victory. Lionel Messi, who had been in tears on the pitch, broke his silence the following day with an Instagram post that laid bare the cost of defeat. “The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,” he wrote, alongside a photograph of himself wearing the silver medal.

The final was a tactical stalemate broken only in extra time. Spain, organised and dominant in possession, completed 235 successful passes in the final third, according to Opta data, while Argentina managed just 47 in the Spanish defensive zone. Messi, who had scored eight goals and provided four assists during the tournament, was unable to influence the match against a defence that conceded only once in the entire competition. Argentina had reached the final after dramatic comebacks against Egypt and England, and extra-time wins over Cape Verde and Switzerland, but found no way through Spain’s midfield control.

In his message, Messi chose to emphasise collective achievement over personal disappointment. He noted that the squad had reached two consecutive World Cup finals, thanked the Argentine public for their support, and congratulated Spain. “Once again, we managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine,” he wrote. The post, published in Spanish and widely translated, made no mention of his international future. At 39, and having worn boots inscribed “El Ultimo Tango” during the tournament, the assumption in much of the global media is that this was his last World Cup appearance.

The defeat leaves Messi with a World Cup record of one title and two lost finals, after the 2014 loss to Germany and the 2022 triumph over France. He finished the tournament with 21 career World Cup goals, surpassed by France’s Kylian Mbappé on 22. Argentine media reported that Messi did not travel back to Buenos Aires with the bulk of the squad, instead heading directly to his residence. In the capital, fans expressed pride rather than recrimination, with supporters telling local media that the team had “done something extraordinary” over a five-year period that also brought two Copa América titles and a Finalissima.

The immediate sporting consequence is a period of uncertainty for the Argentine national team. Coach Lionel Scaloni was tearful after the match and hinted at a possible departure, while FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings over altercations between players at full time, including a second yellow card for midfielder Enzo Fernández. Argentina’s next competitive fixtures are World Cup qualifiers, but the focus now shifts to whether the generation that reached three finals in four tournaments can regenerate without its captain.