Tears fell Lionel Messihis face as he left with a silver medal around his neck. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time FIFA World Cup finally, an end to the defenders’ defense and what could be the last World Cup appearance for the greatest player the game has seen.Twenty years after making his World Cup debut, the 39-year-old could not produce a single miracle. Argentina, chasing back-to-back World Cup titles, played Spain for a long time at MetLife Stadium, where 80,663 spectators came mainly hoping to see Messi-ah lift the trophy again.Instead, it was Spain celebrating their second World Cup title.Ferran Torres scored just 37 seconds into the second half of extra time to seal the final after Spain had dominated the contest from the opening whistle. While the Spanish players celebrated, Messi stood with his teammates, struggling to hold back tears as the Argentina fans gave him a standing ovation.Messi, head bowed, hands on his hips, saw 19-year-old Lamine Yamal embrace Torres after the winning goal. Moments later, with tears streaming down his cheeks, he collected his sprint medal as Spain celebrated amid confetti and fireworks.“I believe that everyone is proud of him, for what he has achieved because he is the best football player that has ever set foot,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said after the match.The numbers showed Spain’s strength in the final. Luis de la Fuente’s side beat Argentina 20-2 and finished 845 to Argentina’s 433. According to Opta, the 18-shot difference was the second largest in the World Cup final since records began in 1966, behind West Germany’s 23-1 better shot than Argentina in the 1990 final.Spain also did well in a way few teams have managed – keeping Messi quiet.“The first thought was to keep Messi out,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said.Messi only had 15 touches in the first half and finished with 54 touches for the game. He never found the space to create the moments that carried Argentina through the tournament. His passes into dangerous areas failed to connect and he rarely received the ball in a position where he could threaten the Spanish defense.
This was not the story of Argentina’s campaign until the end.After leaving European football for Major League Soccer three years ago, some questioned whether Messi’s best days were behind him. Instead, he led Argentina to a return to the World Cup finals with eight goals and four assists.His eight goals helped Argentina through the group stage and the knockout stages. Against England in the semifinal, he scored both goals in a short-term victory. Against Egypt, with Argentina trailing 2-0 and facing elimination, they conceded a cross for the first goal before scoring one.Throughout the tournament, Messi also showed his ability to change matches despite having less space than his teammates. He walked about half the time he was on the field, about five kilometers per game, saving energy before unleashing a good burst whenever Argentina needed him.Against Spain, that time has not yet come.Had it been the latter, Messi would have finished his World Cup career with 21 goals, a record that stood until France’s Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the third match to take his tally to 22. He also became the first player to start all three World Cup finals and has 125 international goals, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 146.His accomplishments are beyond statistics.World Cup winner in 2022. Consecutive Copa América titles. Four UEFA Champions League titles. 12 league titles in all competitions with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the only player in football history to win 8 Ballon d’Or awards. A job that put him on the sidelines Diego Maradona and Pelé in one of football’s greatest controversies.When the final whistle blew, the Spanish players lined up to console him. Many hugged Argentina before collecting their silver medals. When Spain formed a guard of honor for the runners, Messi tried to smile but couldn’t. His expression didn’t change as his opponents patted him on the back as he made his way to the platform.If this was his last appearance on football’s biggest stage, it ended without the fairytale ending many expected.It wasn’t because Messi failed to try. Spain did not give him a place to work. Their play between the players led by Rodri, reduces the attack of Argentina and prevents Messi from commanding the game as he did throughout the tournament.The finale may not have provided the ending he wanted, but that doesn’t change how his career will be remembered.Maybe it wasn’t what Messi had in mind. It may not even be the end. Whether or not this will be Messi’s final appearance at the World Cup will only be known once he decides. But if this was the last picture of him on football’s biggest stage, it was tears, not victory.However, a loss in New Jersey will not change a career that has already earned its place among the greatest the game has known. If this proves to be his signature tearjerker, fans will look back on the fact that they were blessed with one of the greatest performances of all time.
