After a painful defeat: what next for Messi and Argentina?

According to Foxsports.

Context

Lionel Messi, as a key figure in the team, could have a significant impact on the future of Argentina. His experience and leadership will be essential to forming a new squad that can cope with the challenges facing the team after the defeat at the World Cup.

Why is this important

The defeat of Argentina in the World Cup final was a significant event for the team and its fans. This not only ended hopes of winning the title again, but also called into question Lionel Messi's future in the national team. Messi, who spent most of his career in Spain, now faces uncertainty after this painful defeat.

Key takeaways

• After a painful defeat: what next for Messi and Argentina?
• Argentina suffered a painful defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, leaving Messi's future in doubt.
• After A Heartbreaking Defeat, What Comes Next For Messi And Argentina? | FOX Sports.

NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY — After the final whistle sealed Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina, Lionel Messi was left alone on the field. The Argentine football star took off his boots and pads, straightened his legs in front of him and leaned back on his hands. As FIFA volunteers prepared the stage for the awards, one of them waved to him in support, but Messi only glanced across the stands in search of his family. Spain claimed their second World Cup victory thanks to Ferran Torres' goal late in the second half of extra time. Messi and his team were hoping to make history by becoming the first since Pele's Brazil to win back-to-back titles. But dreams of a new triumph were shattered by reality: Argentina did not make a single shot on target, while the Spaniards had 12 attempts, one of which was successful.

"We are sad," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said at a post-match press conference. "We feel so grateful to all our fans, all those people who were waiting for that energy that we lacked. We went to the end when the match was in balance, but we just couldn't get the result. In the end, they deserved to win. That's reality. We have to accept it. But in moments like these you have to recover and start again."

The defeat marked the end of an era for Argentina, who approached the tournament with high spirit as two-time Copa America champions.For Messi, the defeat had special significance as he spent most of his career in Spain, becoming a football icon while playing for Barcelona. The question arises: will we see Messi on world stages again? Unknown. However, the 39-year-old striker has shown throughout this tournament that age is not a hindrance. He started the championship with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria, scored a stunning goal in the round of 16 against Egypt and made two devastating passes in the semi-final against England. He ended up finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists, narrowly missing out on the Golden Boot to Kylian Mbappe, who scored twice in the third-place match to finish with ten goals.

In the final everything was different. Spain controlled the ball and Argentina were unable to impose their game. The tired team was forced to finish the game shorthanded after Enzo Fernandez was sent off before extra time. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, the 2022 Golden Glove winner, set a World Cup finals record with 11 saves from a finger injury to hold off La Roja's momentum.

“I have to be grateful to this team because they were real warriors, and that’s true,” Scaloni said. After the match, he was repeatedly asked about Messi's future.“It is absolutely clear to me that he will play until he decides otherwise,” said Scaloni, who had not yet spoken to Messi before the press conference. "I hope everyone is proud of what he has achieved because he is the best footballer to ever step on the field. I have no doubt about that. What he has done in this championship is incredible."

When the stage for the award ceremony was ready, Messi stood up from the grass and led his companions towards where the Spanish players were celebrating. He didn't say a word, but just stood there, soaking up the atmosphere. His arms rested behind his back, and the captain's armband wrapped tightly around his left bicep. Periodically, photographers stood in front of him, capturing moments that the whole world would soon see. There was criticism that FIFA wanted Argentina to continue moving forward, but in fact, regardless of the opinions of Egyptian or English fans, Argentina were a resilient team. They found themselves at a disadvantage more than once, but each time they found a way to get back into the game. In the end, only Spain, the most complete team among the 48 participants in the tournament, was able to stop them.

“It really hurts our souls not to take the trophy home,” Scaloni said. "But we are proud that we fought until the end. We could have been in better shape towards the end, but even so we were very close to being successful and we are proud of our players. And that's all we can ask - for the Argentine players to give their all and they did it."

Scaloni, whose contract expires in December, shared his emotions, saying he was "crying in the dressing room" and became visibly emotional again at the end of a press conference discussing progress in his role, which he has held since 2018. “I never in my life thought we would end up in a place like this. To continue, you need a lot of things, especially rebooting your mind, creating a group like this again. It's very difficult. It really hurts."

Messi took a deep breath and led his companions through the tunnel of Spanish players to the awards stage, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Donald Trump hung silver medals around their necks. Argentina marched past the World Cup they had lifted four years ago, across the stage and to the south end of the stadium, where thousands of loyal fans in blue and white were still singing and cheering. The video panel brought Messi's face closer, and tears welled up in his eyes. He soon led the team off the field and through the tunnel, perhaps for the last time.

What happens next

Argentina now has to rethink its goals and strategy for the future. Head coach Lionel Scaloni has already stated the need to recover and start a new stage. It is important how the team can adapt after such an unsuccessful final, especially given the upcoming qualifying matches for the next World Cup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score of the Argentina vs Spain match?

The score of the match between Argentina and Spain was 1:0 in favor of Spain.

How did the defeat affect the World Cup standings?

The defeat of Argentina was the end of an era for a team that approached the tournament with high expectations.

Who scored the goal in the Argentina vs Spain match?

The goal in the match was scored by Ferran Torres at the end of the second half of extra time.

When is Argentina's next World Cup game?

Information about Argentina's next World Cup game has not yet been provided.

How did Lionel Messi react to the defeat?

Lionel Messi was left alone on the field after the match and looked upset as the team was unable to make a single shot on target.

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