Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain deserved to win after his side lost 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored in the second period of extra time to give Spain victory at MetLife Stadium, ending Argentina’s hopes of retaining the World Cup.
The South American champions, led by Lionel Messi, were aiming to become the first nation since 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
“They were the better team, that’s the truth,” Scaloni said after the match.
“But I will always be proud of my players, what they achieved and the effort they made to reach this stage. We must appreciate how difficult it is to get this far.”
The 48-year-old said his players should accept defeat with the same respect they showed when celebrating their previous successes.
“We have always been humble in victory, and we must be the same in defeat. Today we showed that we know how to lose,” he said.
“We lost the match and we accept it, but that does not take away everything we did to reach the final.”
Scaloni also thanked the Argentina supporters for their backing throughout the tournament.
“To our fans, my players and the whole country, I want to say that we gave everything,” he said.
“The players left everything on the pitch, and that is something our people can be proud of. Now we have to recover and move forward. There is no other choice.”
Despite the disappointment, Scaloni said reaching a second consecutive World Cup final was still a major achievement.
“I value finishing as runners-up because it takes so much hard work to get here, and I think it deserves great recognition,” he said.
“Of course we wanted to win, but more than anything I feel grateful, even though I am also sad.
“When a team gives everything, whether it plays well or not, it is very difficult to criticise them.”
