The journey of Argentine legend Lionel Messi in the 2026 World Cup ended in a way he did not wish for, after losing the title to Spain, bidding farewell to the tournament having lost four awards he was competing for until the final match.

Messi first lost the World Cup title after the Argentine team failed to defend the crown they won in the 2022 edition, before also missing out on the Golden Boot for the tournament's top scorer.

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His dream of becoming the all-time top scorer in World Cup history also ended, along with losing the award for best player of the tournament, despite the outstanding performances he delivered throughout his World Cup journey. Despite the sad ending, Messi remains one of the standout stars of the 2026 World Cup, having led Argentina to the final and continued writing a new chapter in his extraordinary career. However, the closing night smiled on Spain, depriving the Argentine legend of adding another award to his collection.