Messi Thanks Argentina Fans, Says ‘The Pain Will Take Time to Heal’

Lionel Messi has thanked Argentina's fans after what may have been the final World Cup appearance of his illustrious career, saying the heartbreak of losing the 2026 final to Spain "will take time to heal."

The 39-year-old was visibly emotional after Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey, missing out on a second consecutive World Cup title. While Messi stopped short of confirming his international retirement, he reflected on the tournament in an emotional Instagram post on Monday.

"The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal," Messi wrote alongside a photograph of himself wearing the runners-up medal.

Despite the disappointment, the Argentine captain said he would cherish the team's journey, praising his teammates and supporters for helping Argentina reach a second successive World Cup final.

"I also hold onto all the good things—the matches we turned around by giving it our all, the unforgettable moments, and the support of an entire country," he wrote. "This group brought Argentina back among the world's elite once again. Right now it's difficult to fully appreciate what we've achieved, but reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something to be proud of."

Messi also congratulated Spain on winning the title and thanked fans for their unwavering support.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and share the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship."

Argentina, champions in Qatar in 2022 after defeating France on penalties, enjoyed another impressive campaign in North America, defeating England in the semi-finals before falling to a disciplined Spanish side that prevented them from registering a shot on target in the final.

Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament, also reached another career milestone by surpassing Miroslav Klose's record for the most World Cup goals, ending his career tally at 21. However, France's Kylian Mbappe overtook him with 22 goals and also claimed the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals, compared to Messi's eight.

According to ESPN, Messi and fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul will miss Inter Miami's next two MLS matches as well as the MLS All-Star Game to recover following the World Cup.