"Could not be prouder": David Beckham gives shout out to Lionel Messi
New Jersey, July 20
Argentina may have lost the World Cup final, but won millions of hearts with their spirited performance at the recently concluded FIFA 2026 final in the US.
Hours after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, England football icon David Beckham gave a heartfelt shoutout to Lionel Messi through his Instagram Stories.
David posted a picture of Messi from the last match, and captioned it, "Our captain. We could not be prouder."
Messi who guided his country to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024 was left heartbroken after his sides defeat 1-0. The defending champions Argentina was defeated
at the New York New Jersey Stadium with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute to secure La Roja's second FIFA World Cup title and extend their unbeaten run to a European-record 38 matches.
After the defeat, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi, saying the 39-year-old would continue playing as long as he wanted and described him as the greatest footballer of all time, expressing pride in everything he has achieved.
"Well, he's 39 years old now. Unbelievable. There's nothing new to discover from my side. It was crystal clear for me that he's going to play up until he decided to do so, and that all the team players, team-mates, and all of his people were going to support him. And I'm sure I hope that everyone feels proud of him, of what he's achieved, because he's the best football player ever," Scaloni said as cited by The Athletic.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an Indian football fan, I feel for Messi. He gave everything for his country and that's what matters. Scaloni's words were spot on - he IS the greatest. But I think Argentina's squad needs to rebuild for the next World Cup, they can't rely only on him forever.
David Beckham's message shows what football should be about - respect for the game and its players. Messi may have lost the final, but he's still a champion in our hearts. Just like how we admire players like Sunil Chhetri here in India, legends deserve recognition beyond wins and losses.
Honestly, I'm tired of the Messi worship in every article. Yes, he's great, but Spain played better football and deserved to win. Argentina had their moment in 2022. Let's give credit to Ferran Torres and the Spanish team instead of making every story about Messi's heartbreak. 🙄
Messi's career is like a Bollywood movie - full of highs and lows. But that's what makes it beautiful. Beckham's post is class, and Scaloni's loyalty is admirable. India should take a leaf out of Argentina's book in how they support their legend even in defeat.
It's incredible how Messi keeps performing at 39! In India, we often see players retiring early, but his dedication is inspiring. Beckham's shoutout just proves the brotherhood in football. Although I wish Argentina had won, Spain's unbeaten run is also a remarkable achievement. Great final! 👏
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