Lionel Messi posted his thoughts on Sunday’s 1-0 loss against Spain in the World Cup final one day after the disappointing defeat.
“The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal. But I also hold on to all the good…” Messi wrote on Instagram (as translated to English). “The matches we turned around, giving our all, matches that will forever remain in our memories, the support of an entire country that, together with the hard work and effort of this group, led us to be, once again, among the best in the world. Today it’s hard to fully appreciate what we accomplished, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and be together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentinian. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.”
His wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, also posted on Instagram
“You will always be the best, Lionel Messi. Not just because of your talent, but because you never stopped being you,” she wrote (as translated to English). “Because no matter what, you never give up, you always fight until the end and give it your all until the last second. That strength, that mentality, and that way of picking yourself up again and again is what make you unique. Thank you for teaching us every day that true success is built with hard work, sacrifice, perseverance and never losing the essence. You are the best role model for our children and an inspiration to millions of people. I admire you more than words can express and I am immensely proud to walk through this life by your side. I love you so much.”
Messi was incredible during the 2026 World Cup, finishing second in goals (eight) and tied for second in assists (four) while leading Argentina to a second straight final. That he did so at 39, seemingly past his prime but hardly diminished, made it all the more incredible.
The question now, of course, is whether his international career is over. He would be 41 at the 2028 Copa América and 43 at the 2030 World Cup. It’s certainly possible he could continue playing for Argentina—Cristiano Ronaldo played for Portugal at the age of 41 at this year’s World Cup, to mixed results—though Messi doesn’t really have anything left to prove.
He’s already led Argentina to a pair of Copa América triumphs and a World Cup title. His 207 appearances, 125 goals and 65 assists are all Argentina records, by a large and probably untouchable margin. He is widely considered the greatest to ever play the sport.
But it’s much harder to measure the love of the game and how long that can motivate a player who has dedicated their life to the craft.
Whatever he decides, his legend is secured.
