Lionel Messi’s extraordinary FIFA World Cup career came to an emotional end on Sunday as Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to help Spain lift their second World Cup title and end Argentina’s reign as defending champions.
While the result was heartbreaking for Argentina, Messi finished his final World Cup campaign with another remarkable tournament and added several historic records to his legendary career.
Spain Outclass Argentina In The Final
Spain controlled the final from the opening whistle and kept Argentina under constant pressure throughout the match.
Luis de la Fuente’s side dominated possession, created numerous scoring chances and prevented Argentina from building any meaningful attacks.
Argentina became the first men’s team since Opta began keeping detailed World Cup records in 1966 to finish the 90 minutes of a World Cup final without attempting a single shot.
The defending champions ended the 120-minute contest with only three shots, and none of them forced Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon into making a save.
Spain finally broke the deadlock in extra time when Ferran Torres finished from close range to secure the World Cup trophy.
Messi Enjoyed Another Outstanding Tournament
Although Argentina fell short in the final, Lionel Messi once again proved why he is regarded as one of football’s greatest players.
The 39-year-old captain inspired Argentina’s run to a second consecutive World Cup final by scoring eight goals and providing four assists during the tournament.
In addition, Messi led the competition in several creative statistics.
He finished with 4.12 expected assists (xA), the highest in the tournament, while also creating 21 key passes, more than any other player.
His performances highlighted his ability to influence matches both as a goalscorer and as a playmaker.
Messi Broke Multiple FIFA World Cup Records
The 2026 World Cup added several more milestones to Messi’s incredible career.
At 39 years and 25 days, he became the oldest outfield player to appear in a men’s FIFA World Cup final, breaking the previous record held by Sweden’s Gunnar Gren.
Messi also moved past Miroslav Klose during the tournament to become the men’s FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer. Although Kylian Mbappe, with 22 goals, later moved ahead, Messi finished his World Cup career with 21 goals, placing him second on the all-time list.
His assist against Egypt created another historic achievement.
Messi became the first player to register an assist in six different FIFA World Cups, showcasing his consistency across two decades of international football.
Earlier in the tournament, he also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick during Argentina’s group-stage victory over Algeria.
A Career Filled With Historic Achievements
Messi’s World Cup numbers place him among the greatest players in the tournament’s history.
He retired from the competition with 12 assists, the highest recorded by any player since detailed data collection began in 1966.
He also finished with the record for most FIFA World Cup appearances (33) and most World Cup victories (24).
Another unique achievement saw Messi become only the second player, alongside Kylian Mbappe, to score at least seven goals in two separate FIFA World Cup editions.
These records underline his consistency and impact across multiple generations of football.
An Unforgettable World Cup Legacy
Messi’s FIFA World Cup journey stretched across six tournaments spanning nearly 20 years.
He represented Argentina at Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and North America 2026.
During that remarkable journey, he won one FIFA World Cup title, finished as runner-up twice, and received two Golden Ball awards as the tournament’s best player.
Although his final World Cup appearance ended in defeat, Messi leaves the global stage with one of the greatest legacies in football history. His records, leadership, and unforgettable performances have secured his place among the all-time legends of the FIFA World Cup.