Former France international Thierry Henry has praised Lionel Messi’s commitment to Argentina after the captain was visibly emotional following his team’s defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi was seen in tears as he collected his silver medal after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in Sunday’s final, bringing an end to the country’s title defence.
Speaking on Fox Sports, Henry said the emotional reaction reflected the Inter Miami star’s enduring passion and dedication to representing his country.
“Look at what it means to him. If you ever had any doubt about whether the guy still has any fire in his belly, look at him. Look at what it means.
“Everybody’s clapping because you are looking at him, and this is what it means to him.
“You won already. And look at the guy. Look at the passion, desire and the love that he has for his country and how much he puts into it.”
DailyInsightNG reports that Messi played a pivotal role in Argentina’s run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, delivering another outstanding tournament despite the disappointment of falling short in the title decider.
The 39-year-old finished the competition with eight goals, helping Argentina reach a second consecutive World Cup final before falling to Spain after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time.
Although Argentina missed out on retaining the trophy, Messi’s performances throughout the tournament have once again reinforced his importance to the national team. Attention will now turn to his future with Argentina as fans await his next decision on international football.