India, July 20 -- Lionel Messi walked into the 2026 World Cup final with history already trailing behind him. He walked out with a runner-up medal, several records achieved merely by taking the field, and an extraordinary collection of landmarks that vanished during 120 barren minutes against Spain.

Ferran Torres' 106th-minute strike secured Spain a 1-0 victory at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, ending Argentina's reign and denying Messi the second successive World Cup title that would have transformed an already incomparable tournament career. Spain controlled the final almost throughout, taking the game's first 20 attempts before Argentina finally produced one in extra time. Even Emiliano Martinez's final-record 12 saves could not car...