EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Lionel Messi was visibly emotional and uncertain about his international future following Argentina's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium. The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Spain, thanks to Ferran Torres' goal just 37 seconds into the second extra-time period, denying Messi and Argentina the chance to become the first men's team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.

Messi's Legacy and Future

Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, expressed pride in Messi's achievements, stating, "I hope that everyone feels proud of him, of what he's achieved because he's the best football player ever stepping foot on a pitch." Despite his accolades, it remains uncertain whether this match marked Messi's final appearance for Argentina. The 39-year-old had previously indicated that the 2022 World Cup would be his last, although he made history by participating in six World Cups last month. Scaloni mentioned that he had not yet discussed Messi's future with him, and the players did not stop to speak with reporters as they left the stadium.

Spain's Dominance

The crowd of 80,663 predominantly supported Messi, hoping for a second championship. Instead, the scene was one of disappointment as Messi, alongside his teammates, faced the applauding Argentina fans while the Spanish players celebrated on the podium. Spain's performance throughout the tournament was impressive, with a significant 20-2 advantage in shots during the final and a passing dominance of 845 to 433 over Argentina. Torres acknowledged the challenge of facing Messi, saying, "When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous," but emphasized Spain's reliance on their own football style.

Having led Argentina to victory in the 2022 final against France and secured consecutive Copa América titles, Messi's reaction to the loss was one of dejection. As Spain's Lamine Yamal, who is seen as a rising star, celebrated with Torres after the decisive goal, Messi could only bow his head in disappointment. After moving to MLS three years ago, some speculated that Messi would soon retire, but he proved his worth by scoring eight goals and providing four assists in this tournament, raising his World Cup career total to 21 goals. This record was recently surpassed by France's Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice in the third-place match to reach 22 goals.

As Messi's international career hangs in the balance, the football world watches closely to see what the future holds for one of the sport's greatest players.