Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni broke down in tears during his post-match press conference after Spain ended his side’s FIFA World Cup title defence with a 1-0 extra-time victory in the final. Praising Lionel Messi and his players for their remarkable campaign despite surrendering the title, he admitted the defeat would remain painful for a long time.
Ferran Torres’ scored the only goal for Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final against the defending champion Argentina.
Scaloni said Argentina’s campaign had been physically exhausting, with injuries to key players forcing repeated changes throughout the tournament. “We had injuries in key positions that we weren’t expecting. The wear and tear has been enormous, they gave their last effort,” Scaloni said.
Despite the setbacks, Scolni praised his players for their commitment and resilience. He added that even after Spain took the lead in extra time, Argentina believed they could still force penalties. “At the moment they score the goal against us, we thought we were going to go all the way to the end and have some chance.” He also acknowledged Spain’s performance, saying simply: “We have to give credit to the opponent.”
The Argentina coach reserved special praise for captain Lionel Messi, whose World Cup journey ended in defeat at the age of 39. “Leo is 39 years old, it’s an incredible thing. I was absolutely clear that he would play as long as he wanted. I hope that people are proud of him and the team.”
Scaloni described Messi as the greatest footballer in history, saying his legacy extends far beyond trophies and records. He also singled out veteran defender Nicolas Tagliafico for his determination during the final. “Tagliafico put on a hell of a game, he didn’t want to come off.”
The Argentina coach repeatedly thanked his players for overcoming injuries and adversity to reach another World Cup final, calling them “true warriors” and expressing gratitude to the Argentine Football Association for the opportunity to lead the national team.
Although Argentina’s reign as world champions came to an end, Scaloni said the result would not diminish his pride in a squad that fought until the final whistle.