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Lionel Messi has accepted that Argentina’s 2026 World Cup extra-time defeat to Spain was a part of his football journey.
At an event in Oviedo, Spain, to receive the Princess of Asturias award for sport, Messi, 39, was philosophical about this summer’s setback and about his experience with Argentina in his two decades with the national team.
Loss
“In football, winning is very difficult, and you have to appreciate the journey, because only one team can win,” he said. “It happened to us in the final against Spain and in the final [1-0 defeat in extra-time to Germany] of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Competition
“That’s why the important thing is to be competitive and give it your all to win, even if you can’t; to have competed to the point of reaching your goal and to feel satisfied because you gave it your all, regardless of the result.”
Messi retired from international duty and played his final game for Argentina earlier this month, after scoring 126 goals in 208 appearances.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
