Argentina’s World Cup campaign concluded in sobering fashion as Lionel Messi bid farewell to the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium. La Albiceleste became the first team in the competition’s history to fail to register a shot during regular time of a final, mustering no threat whatsoever during 90 minutes before conceding in extra time.
The performance stood in stark contrast to the vibrant, dramatic football that had carried the 39-year-old captain through the tournament. Just days earlier, a 2–1 semi-final victory over England had cemented Messi’s status as his nation’s undisputed greatest player, finally securing the universal affection that had long eluded him in the shadow of Diego Maradona.
Surpassing Maradona
The win over England marked a symbolic passing of the torch from the 1986 World Cup winner, who died on 25 November 2020. Tomás Abraham, a 79-year-old philosopher and lifelong football observer in Buenos Aires, captured the national mood, stating that for English football, “this is more painful than the Hand of God”. He added: “The English consider the Hand of God to be illegal, a cheat. And this hurts all the more because they were defeated by a superior team that they were particularly keen to beat. The wound runs deeper.”
Carlos Mac Allister, who played alongside Maradona for Argentina and is father to current midfielder Alexis, highlighted the contrasting nature of the two icons. “The difference between Diego and Leo is their private lives,” he explained. “Thanks to Diego being Diego, Messi is Messi today. With an understanding of what happened, Messi was able to work out how to take the game to the next level.”
Despite supplanting Maradona in the nation’s esteem, Messi paid tribute to his predecessor following the England victory. “I’m sure Diego is enjoying this immensely from up above. Let him enjoy it, because it’s a gift for him too,” he said.
Final Frustration
Against Spain, however, the attacking verve evaporated. The diminutive captain was rarely involved as La Roja suffocated Argentina’s play, restricting them to a historically passive display that one observer described as appearing increasingly desperate.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their 2022 World Cup triumph and two Copa América titles, saw his previously unimpeachable reputation take a rare hit. While his legacy remains secure, the defeat represented a missed opportunity to solidify his status as the country’s greatest coach.
The End of an Era
For Messi, the defeat does not diminish a storied international career that includes the 2022 crown, but it confirms that time has finally caught the sport’s most decorated player. This was his last appearance on football’s grandest stage, closing a chapter that had seen him transform from a divisive figure in his homeland into its most beloved son.