Lionel Messi has described the pain of Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final as “immense,” stating that the wound will require time to heal. The loss marked Argentina’s second World Cup final defeat for Messi, who was also part of the team that fell to Germany in 2014.
Ferran Torres’ extra-time goal secured Spain’s second World Cup title, ending Argentina’s defence of the championship they won in 2022. At 39 years old, Messi is considered unlikely to participate in the 2030 tournament, though he has not yet confirmed his future in international football.
In a social media post, Messi acknowledged the difficulty of fully appreciating their achievement immediately after the defeat. He highlighted the team’s effort in turning around matches and the unwavering support from their country, which he said brought them back among the world’s elite.
Messi also extended congratulations to Spain on their victory. He played a significant role in Argentina’s journey to the final, contributing eight goals and four assists. The team reached the final for the third time in the last four World Cups.
During the knockout stages, Messi was instrumental in Argentina’s comeback victories against Egypt and England. However, they were unable to overcome a Spain side that conceded only one goal throughout the entire tournament.
Spain celebrates World Cup triumph
Following their victory, Spain’s World Cup-winning team returned home to a royal welcome and a parade through Madrid. An estimated crowd of almost two million people gathered in the streets to greet the squad.
The 26 players and coaching staff met with the country’s royals and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after arriving in the Spanish capital. Prime Minister Sánchez commended the team for their style of play, effort, and victory, stating that watching them play was truly enjoyable.
The squad then embarked on a celebratory parade aboard an open-top bus through central Madrid. The bus featured the slogan “Stars shine together” and displayed photos of the footballers.
The celebrations extended to the dressing room, where champagne was opened. The team’s flight back to Spain was scheduled for 11 p.m., indicating a brief but intense celebration after the match.
The victory was particularly significant for players like Rodrigo Hernández, who had experienced Spain’s first World Cup win in 2010 as a 14-year-old. Hernández, who was in the US for both victories, collected the trophy for the tournament’s best player.
Other individual accolades included Pau Cubarsí receiving the young player award and Unai Simón earning the Golden Glove. Each Spain player received a replica World Cup trophy in a Louis Vuitton trunk, along with a Lego version.
The team also cut pieces of the net and received NBA-style rings to commemorate their achievement. Lamine Yamal was seen embracing Lionel Messi after the match, an image that is expected to be remembered.
Ferran Torres described the win as a “great liberation,” reflecting on the challenges faced in the sport. The team’s collective effort and the system implemented by coach Luis de la Fuente were credited for the triumph, which was built over 51 days.
De la Fuente, who previously coached at the youth level for the Spanish federation, winning European Championships with the under-19s and under-21s, now adds a World Cup to his achievements with the senior side.
The team’s dominance in the final was evident, with Spain recording 20 shots compared to Argentina’s zero shots on target throughout the game. This marked only the third time in 900 World Cup games, for which Opta has statistics, that a team failed to shoot on target in a final.
Spain’s defensive strength was a key factor, as they maintained an expected goals against (xG against) of 0.3 per game across the tournament. Goalkeeper Unai Simón noted that his gloves did not have much work to do, while Aymeric Laporte emphasized that Spain does not overly rely on its backline.
The team’s success is seen as a victory for a collective idea and conviction. Coach De la Fuente joked about a promise made by Marc Cucurella to get a tattoo of his face if Spain won the World Cup, noting that players are men of their word.
The commemorative shirts ordered for the occasion bore the inscription “Spain 26” on the back.
Read Also
Source: bbc.com
