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Argentina Falls 1-0 to Spain; Messi Misses All-Star Game

7/22/2026

41 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Messi Skips All-Star

Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored eight goals and four assists, finishing second in the Golden Boot race to Kylian Mbappé.
Messi became the first player to start three World Cup finals.
FIFA named a disciplinary prosecutor for the brawl, causing Messi and Rodrigo De Paul to miss the MLS All-Star Game on July 29 and two Inter Miami matches.

Summary

Argentina Welcomes Fans

Thousands of fans met the Argentina squad at Ezeiza International Airport on Monday, where 16 players and coach Lionel Scaloni arrived on a red-carpet with a military band.
President Javier Milei said the team was not in a festive mood but deserved a tribute as the greatest team in history after reaching the final.
Lionel Messi flew to Miami and then to Rosario, opting not to travel with the delegation.

History

Historical Context

Argentina won its first World Cup on 25 June 1978, beating the Netherlands 3-1 at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental while the Videla military junta used the tournament for nationalist propaganda amid human-rights abuses. Decades later, the 2026 final in New Jersey saw Lionel Messi start a third final, but Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain, underscoring the nation’s lasting football prominence.

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Messi Skips All-Star

Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored eight goals and four assists, finishing second in the Golden Boot race to Kylian Mbappé.
Messi became the first player to start three World Cup finals.
FIFA named a disciplinary prosecutor for the brawl, causing Messi and Rodrigo De Paul to miss the MLS All-Star Game on July 29 and two Inter Miami matches.

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