(REUTERS) Lionel Messi and Argentina lost the World Cup final 1-0 to Spain on Sunday as they missed out on the chance of a second successive World Cup title.
For Messi it also meant he missed out on the opportunity to strengthen his claim as the greatest player of all time.
Having already led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024, victory on Sunday would have given him an unprecedented run of two World Cups and two Copa Americas in succession.
The second World Cup final defeat of his career having also lost in 2014 won't damage his legacy in any way with the 39-year-old having long been measured against soccer greats such as Pele and Diego Maradona.
The question of retirement will now be asked again with Messi turning 40 next year.
Messi has earned the right to choose when it's time to call it a day, but when will that will be is not clear.
He still has a one-year contract with Inter Miami and it's not out of the question that he could extend his international career until the next Copa America in 2027.
Posted by: Alma Angeles/NET25 News
