Even the greatest footballer of all time was tainted by Argentina's poisonous dark arts

Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup final, with Lionel Messi unable to lead his team to a successful title defence after Ferran Torres' goal at MetLife Stadium

The Argentina captain - who spent most of his career playing in Barcelona - was ineffectual in the New Jersey showdown as his team failed to find the net in 120 minutes.

Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday brought star forward Lionel Messi's dream of winning back-to-back trophies crashing down to earth.

Argentina's defeat brought the curtain down on one of the greatest World Cup careers the sport has ever witnessed. | Football News

Spain 1-0 Argentina (after extra time): A team with the greatest footballer ever should not be this dull, this focused on delaying and disrupting, writes Richard Jolly from the…

Lionel Messi's dream of another World Cup title ended in tears as Argentina lost the final to Spain. Read about Messi's final World Cup match.

BUENOS AIRES: Nervous excitement and rowdy cheers turned into anguished groans, nail-biting tension and tears, as Argentines' hope of yet another epic comeback led by Lionel Messi…

It feels almost sacrilegious to say it about arguably the greatest footballer of all time, but Messi simply did not influence this final. | Football News

F. Scott Fitzgerald said "show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy." This was no tragedy but a World Cup without Messi is less than whole

BUENOS AIRES, July 20 — Nervous excitement and rowdy cheers turned into anguished groans, nailbiting tension and tears as Argentines’ hope of yet another epic comeback led by...

Argentina's passion was an asset but too often in this World Cup it has spilled over into distasteful aggression

As the champion wept on the pitch after the World Cup final defeat, Argentina may well have wondered with trepidation what life will look like in the post-Messi era.

Tears rolled down Lionel Messi's face as he walked away with a silver medal around his neck. Spain had beaten Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup final, ending…

Lionel Messi had so desperately hoped his World Cup would end differently.

The football was so awful that it almost made Justin Bieber look entertaining

Argentine fans were left in tears as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, bringing an agonizing end to Lionel Messi's final tournament.

Lionel Messi could have ended all debate over who is the greatest player of all time by winning another World Cup with Argentina on July 19, but he was left in tears following…

Even the greatest footballer of all time was tainted by Argentina's poisonous dark arts

Messi's tearful 2026 World Cup farewell revives the Pele-Maradona debate, but leaves his place beside football's greatest legends beyond any doubt forever. | Football News

Disgraceful scenes at final whistle of World Cup title match were sadly predictable