Overview
- Late on Saturday, Lionel Messi posted a past‑tense Instagram story and a photo of the Argentina squad that many fans read as a farewell and that quickly trended online.
- Reports say the post drew more than 2 million likes and over 89,000 comments within an hour, making social media the main driver of the public reaction.
- Messi’s appearance in the final confirmed two longevity milestones: he became only the second player to reach three World Cup finals and the oldest outfield player to start a final at 39 years and 25 days.
- There is no official statement from Messi or Argentina’s coaching staff that he will retire from international football, so suggestions that the final is his last remain unconfirmed.
- The post reopened wider debates about officiating during Argentina’s run, prompting sharp defenses such as David Faitelson’s public rebuke of claims that referees favored Messi.