Tearful Lionel Messi says Spain 'better' team in World Cup final - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lionel Messi was left in tears after he was unable to conjure up one more piece of magic to save Argentina from defeat to Spain in Sunday's World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.

Messi could only acknowledge afterward that Spain had outplayed an Argentina team that was looking to become the first back-to-back men's World Cup winner since Brazil in 1962.

Ferran Torres scored 37 seconds into the second extra-time period, lifting Spain to a 1-0 victory and their second World Cup title.

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The overwhelming majority in the crowd of 80,663 was rooting for a recoronation of Messi as a two-time champion at age 39.

Instead, he fought back tears and had a look of misery as he and teammates faced applauding and bowing Argentina fans at the stadium's south end while Spanish stars lifted the trophy on a podium at the center stripe.

«I feel sad, but I am aware that we played our hearts out,» Messi said.

Spain's dominance was thorough in the final and throughout the tournament. La Furia Roja had a 20-2 advantage in shots, and they out-passed Argentina 845-433.

«They were better, to be honest,» Messi said. «We lost the game, and we accept that. That doesn't mean that we will forget everything we've done so far, so I'd like to thank my people, my players and the country.»

After leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 final against France, sandwiched between consecutive Copa América championships, Messi could only bow his head, grimace and put hands on hips as Spain's Lamine Yamal, less than a week past his 19th birthday and projected as the sport's next big thing,