Lionel Messi stood staring at the Argentina fans, tears streaming down his face.
Behind him, Spain were lifting the World Cup following a victory that was a triumph for quality, persistence and restraint.
The fact Messi and his team-mates did not turn round and watch the victors lift the trophy came as no surprise; it was merely a continuation of a classless attitude evident from the outset.
Their sole gameplan was to frustrate and cheat, using thuggish tactics in the hope it took them to a penalty shoot-out. Mercifully, for the game of football it did not succeed.
The antics of Leandro Paredes, who should have earlier joined Enzo Fernández in being sent-off, and Nahuel Molina at the final whistle, throwing punches at Spain players as they celebrated summed up a team that knew they had been handed a footballing lesson.
Argentina did not have a shot of any description until the 117th minute. That came from Messi on one of the few occasions he managed to escape the iron fist of Spain’s control.
Messi’s final let-down after another brilliant World Cup
Messi, as always, had been Argentina’s star man throughout a tournament during which he turned 39 years of age. But he was a largely peripheral figure as Spain dominated the ball in a one-sided encounter. The Inter Miami star managed just 54 touches in 120 minutes and spent much of the afternoon trotting around as the European champions pinged the ball from one player to another.
As he did in Argentina’s successful 2022 campaign in Qatar, Messi dragged a collection of moderately talented players to the final with eight goals and providing the inspiration for many more.
But not even he could influence a fight as one-sided as this though and his obvious irritation spilled over in the second half of normal time as he attempted to get Marc Cucurella sent off for covering his mouth, waving his hand towards the sidelines like a child attempting to get the teacher’s attention. It was unbecoming of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and a desperate act of a man who knew his team were in need of help.
That it didn’t come was also a slight surprise. The widespread accusations that Argentina were given preferential treatment by referees may be misplaced but they were certainly on the right side of several key decisions throughout the tournament.
Slovenian official Slavko Vincic attempted to let the final flow but it was a nigh on impossible task due to Argentina’s persistent infractions with the only criticism being he ought to have clamped down on them earlier.
If he had then Messi and Co would undoubtedly have suffered a deserved defeat in 90 minutes, rather than having to wait until 106 for Ferran Torres to finally apply the killer touch.
Messi likely to walk away after fantastic international career
Given his age and the fact this appears the end of a cycle for Argentina with several ageing players, and coach Lionel Scaloni, set to walk away, it seems highly likely Messi’s international career is now over.
It is perhaps fitting it will end at the same MetLife Stadium where he announced his international retirement in 2016 after a Copa America final defeat to Chile, their fourth final defeat in nine years.
Having been persuaded to carry on, Messi returned with a bang, perhaps not initially as a disjointed side failed to make much of an impression in Russia in 2018, but his moment was to come three years later with victory at the Copa America.
Argentina backed that up by lifting the trophy in Qatar – their first world crown in 36 years – before another Copa win in 2024.
Messi was the driving force behind them all and it is only right to focus on those successes rather than dwell on the angry, bitter, miserable performance against Spain.
Only Messi knows what the tears represented at the final whistle. Disappointment, regret, perhaps even a little embarrassment at being caught up in Argentina’s shameful approach in New Jersey.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Messi will now disappear once and for all from the biggest stage and spend his final months, or years, torturing defences in Major League Soccer.
Thank you for the memories, it’s just a shame it had to end this way.
