Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni conceded that Spain were the better team after his side suffered a 1-0 extra-time defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored in the second half of extra time to break Argentina’s resistance and hand Spain victory at MetLife Stadium after the South Americans had been reduced to 10 men.
The defeat denied Argentina, led by veteran captain Lionel Messi, the chance to become the first nation since 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup title.
“They were the better side—that’s the reality,” Scaloni said after the match. “But I will always cherish this team, what they achieved and the determination they showed to reach this stage. We must appreciate how much effort it takes to get here.”
The 48-year-old coach said his players accepted the defeat with dignity, just as they had celebrated their previous successes with humility.
“We know how to win, and today we have shown that we also know how to lose,” he said. “We lost the final and we accept it, but that does not erase everything we accomplished on the road to this point.”
Scaloni praised his players for their commitment throughout the tournament and thanked Argentine supporters for their unwavering backing.
“To our people, my players and the entire country, I want to say that we gave everything we had,” he said. “When players leave everything on the pitch, as they did today, they set a great example for the nation.”
He urged his team to recover from the disappointment and look ahead.
“We have to get back up. There is no other option,” he said.
Despite the heartbreak of missing out on the trophy, Scaloni insisted that reaching a second consecutive World Cup final remained a remarkable achievement.
“I value this runners-up finish because it takes an enormous amount to reach a World Cup final, and I believe that deserves great recognition,” he said.
“Of course we wanted to win, but above all I feel gratitude, even though there is sadness. When a team gives everything, whether it plays well or not, it is difficult to ask for anything more.”
