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Messi rewrites FIFA World Cup history despite Argentina’s loss

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ISLAMABAD – Lionel Messi became the oldest outfield player to appear in a FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, although Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.

The Argentina captain was 39 years and 25 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Sweden’s Gunnar Gren, who was 37 years and 241 days when he featured in the 1958 World Cup final against Brazil.

Messi joins exclusive World Cup club

The Inter Miami forward also became only the second player in football history to appear in three FIFA World Cup finals. Messi reached the sport’s biggest match with Argentina in 2014, 2022 and 2026, matching the achievement of Brazilian legend Cafu, who featured in the finals of 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Spain denies Argentina back-to-back titles

Despite the historic milestone, Messi’s latest World Cup final ended in disappointment. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time as Spain secured a 1-0 victory, lifting their second FIFA World Cup title and preventing Argentina from successfully defending the trophy won in Qatar four years earlier.

Another milestone in a legendary career

The 2026 final came 12 years after Messi’s first World Cup final appearance in 2014, when Argentina lost to Germany, and four years after he lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022.

Although Argentina fell short in the final, Messi’s record-breaking appearance further strengthened his legacy as one of the greatest footballers in history.

His longevity at the highest level allowed him to rewrite another World Cup record while joining an exclusive group of players to have appeared in three finals.

Key points:

  • Lionel Messi became the oldest outfield player to feature in a FIFA World Cup final.
  • The Argentina captain was 39 years and 25 days old during the 2026 final.
  • Messi surpassed Sweden’s Gunnar Gren, who set the previous record in 1958.
  • The Inter Miami star also became only the second player to appear in three FIFA World Cup finals, alongside Brazil’s Cafu.
  • Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner.
  • Messi reached World Cup finals in 2014, 2022, and 2026, cementing his place among football’s greatest players.

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I am the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Owner of Upfront News, with a strong passion for language, journalism, and storytelling. As a Grammarian and chess enthusiast, I value structure, clarity, and strategy in both writing and thinking. I cover politics, sports, lifestyle, and technology, with a focus on delivering clear, engaging, and reliable journalism. As Editor-in-Chief, I oversee Upfront’s editorial standards and work to ensure that every piece of content reflects accuracy, clarity, and responsible reporting. Hardworking and dedicated, I strive to maintain high editorial standards across everything I publish. Whether covering breaking news or developing in-depth features, my goal is to inform readers, provide meaningful context, and make an impact through honest and thoughtful journalism. As a Co-Owner of Upfront News, I am also committed to the publication’s long-term growth, independence, and credibility while helping shape its editorial direction and vision.

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