In the dying moments of extra time, it almost seemed as though Argentina would pull off yet another dramatic comeback. Throughout the knockout rounds of the tournament, the team had demonstrated a knack for late-game heroics, with 10 out of their 19 goals scored after the 80th minute. Although Lionel Messi had been largely subdued during the final, he suddenly found his footing. Fueled by their captain’s resurgence, Argentina pressed forward, while Spain dug in defensively. The atmosphere felt eerily familiar.
Event Context
This time, however, the much-anticipated comeback never materialized.
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Four years prior in Qatar, Messi scaled the peak he had pursued throughout his illustrious career, a victory some hailed as the moment he “completed football.” Spain thwarted his chance for a memorable sequel. A decisive strike from substitute Ferran Torres in the 106th minute secured Spain’s second World Cup title following a tense 120-minute match. The reigning European champions controlled both possession and field position, forcing Argentina into a shadow of the team that had advanced to the final.
This defeat marked the end of one of the most remarkable World Cup careers in history.
Messi retires while holding the record for the most World Cup appearances at 33 matches across six tournaments, and he remains the only player to have started in three World Cup finals. His first final was in 2014, where Mario Götze’s extra-time goal gave Germany the championship. Eight years later in Qatar, Messi finally lifted the trophy after Argentina triumphed over France in a match regarded as one of the greatest finals in football history. Although his last appearance ended in disappointment, it does little to diminish the extraordinary legacy he leaves on the sport’s grandest platform.
Player Focus
In the dying moments of the match, Argentina registered just two attempts, both coming after the 118th minute, yet neither posed a threat to the Spanish goalkeeper. Lionel Messi played a pivotal role in both attacks, but La Albiceleste failed to find the equalizer. As the final whistle blew at MetLife Stadium in New York, Spain erupted with joy while Messi was visibly distraught, collapsing in tears.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Messi was unable to contain his tears when he received his runners-up medal. Standing alone at the side of the presentation podium, he cried inconsolably while the Spanish team celebrated their triumph with the trophy before he quietly left the pitch.
There had been real doubt about Messi’s participation in the tournament due to his age, but the 39-year-old ultimately made a last-minute commitment and led Argentina to the final once more. Throughout the tournament, he played eight matches, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. During a group-stage victory against Austria, Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose of Germany, and the first player to score 20 goals in the competition. He concluded his World Cup journey with 21 goals, although Kylian Mbappe edged ahead by netting twice in France’s third-place playoff win over England, bringing his total to 22.
