Argentina’s reign as world champions ended abruptly in the 2026 World Cup final, where they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain. The loss marked a stark contrast to their triumph in the 2022 tournament, where they had lifted the trophy under the leadership of a key player. Spain’s victory capped a dominant campaign, securing their first major title in decades. The result leaves questions over Argentina’s ability to sustain their recent success on the global stage.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, but his side lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 final.
