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Lionel Messi endured a rare day off in Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain, with the legendary forward failing to create a single chance for a team-mate for the first time in his World Cup career. The statistics highlighted Spain’s disciplined defensive play as Luis de la Fuente’s side neutralized Argentina’s biggest attacking threat en route to a 1-0 extra-time victory at MetLife Stadium. Messi, making his 34th World Cup appearance in six tournaments, has never started before FIFA World Cup match without creating at least one chance for a teammate. That remarkable streak came to an end in the final as Spain successfully denied him the space and time that defined his international career. The 39-year-old failed to produce the moments of brilliance that led Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final. Twenty years after making his debut in the tournament, Messi saw his bid to become a two-time world champion come to an end when Spain won their second FIFA World Cup title. Spain’s plan to contain the Argentine captain worked almost perfectly. Messi had just 15 touches in the first half and finished the game with just 54, rarely receiving possession in dangerous areas. His passing combinations failed to click and he never found himself in a position to seriously threaten the Spanish defence. After the game, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente admitted that stopping Messi was the team’s primary goal. “The first idea was to keep Messi away,” he said. Spain dominated large parts of the contest, finishing with a 20-2 advantage in shots while completing 845 passes compared to Argentina’s 433. Ferran Torres eventually settled it in the final 37 seconds of the second overtime, firing into the roof of the net after Nico Williams headed the ball into his path. The victory secured Spain’s first World Cup title since 2010 and extended La Roja’s unbeaten run to a European record 38 matches. For Messi, the defeat marked a disappointing end to an otherwise outstanding tournament. The Argentina captain led his nation back to the World Cup finals with eight goals and four assists as he became the first player to start in three FIFA World Cup finals. He also finished the tournament with 125 international goals, second behind Cristiano Ronaldo‘s 146, and made a record 34 appearances at the World Cup. After the final whistle, an emotional Messi was comforted by several Spanish players before walking through a guard of honor formed by the newly crowned champions as Argentina collected their runners-up medals. As Spain celebrated with the trophy, Messi walked off the field carrying his silver medal, his hopes of leading Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles ended by a Spanish side who succeeded where every other opponent had failed, preventing one of football’s greatest creators from creating a single chance.
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