How the run went
Messi's Argentina made good on their pre-tournament billing. They topped Group J, beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32, edged Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16, and beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the quarter-final before a 2-1 semi-final win over England sent them into a second straight final.
The final: Spain 1-0 Argentina
Spain won it in extra time to lift their second World Cup and deny Argentina back-to-back titles. It's the closest Messi has come to a second champion's medal since 2022, and it ended his last World Cup as a player without the fairytale repeat.
What went right, what didn't
Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez carried the goal threat through the knockout rounds, and Enzo Fernández controlled midfield in every game but the final, where Spain's press disrupted Argentina's build-up all night.
Full results
See every Argentina score from the group stage to the final on our schedule page, or check the final group and knockout tables.