In the wake of his team’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, Lionel Messi expressed his emotional struggle. On Monday, Messi shared a heartfelt statement, acknowledging the loss, thanking his fans and teammates, and congratulating Spain on their victory.

The message, posted on Messi’s Instagram in Spanish, included a translation that reads:

“The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal. But I also choose to hold on to all the good things … the matches we played, giving everything we had, will stay in our memories forever. With the support of an entire country, together with the hard work and effort of this group, we once again managed to be among the best teams in the world. Today it’s difficult to fully appreciate what we achieved, but this team reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again, we came together as a country, united by immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.”

Despite Messi’s poignant message, tensions flared between the two teams following the Sunday match, which concluded with Spain’s 1-0 victory. A brawl erupted post-game, although Messi was not a part of the incident, which FIFA plans to investigate.

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The final could signify the end of Messi’s World Cup journey. With the next tournament set to take place in Argentina, Messi will be 43 by that time. While it is conceivable that he could still play, it seems unlikely.

On Sunday, as he left the field, Messi appeared visibly emotional, fighting back tears after receiving his second-place medal.

Although Messi is aging, he showcased his extraordinary skills during the 2026 World Cup, setting numerous records and competing for the Golden Boot. His late-game heroics were crucial in preventing Argentina’s earlier elimination from the tournament.

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Nonetheless, those achievements did not bring about a second consecutive World Cup victory for the team.

The disappointment from falling short is palpable, yet it will not tarnish Messi’s legacy. He has already secured every accolade in soccer, including winning the World Cup for Argentina. If this was indeed his last World Cup appearance, he can leave Sunday’s game with pride, though the pain of the loss may linger.