Lionel Messi ended his 2026 World Cup campaign as runner-up after losing the final 1-0 to Spain, while boosting his personal stats with 12 goal involvements (8 goals and 4 assists).

Lionel Messi becomes the second player in history to appear in three World Cup finals (2014, 2022, 2026), alongside Brazil's Cafu (1994, 1998, 2002), with the Argentine starting all three finals.

The Argentine No.10 legend (aged 39 years and 25 days) became the second oldest player to feature in a World Cup final, after Italy's Dino Zoff (40 years and 133 days), who played in the 1982 final and won 3-1 against West Germany.

Messi completed three successful dribbles, taking his World Cup tally to 28 successful dribbles, just one ahead of Lamine Yamal (27), who completed five dribbles in the final.

Messi concluded his World Cup career in his final tournament appearance with 33 goal involvements in 34 matches, scoring 21 goals and providing 12 assists.

Messi trails Kylian Mbappé by just one goal, as Mbappé now holds the title of 'all-time top scorer' in World Cup history with 22 goals.