Lionel Messi says he is still dealing with intense emotional pain after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat. Several outlets report that Messi said Monday that “the pain is immense” and that it will “take a long time” for the setback to heal. The comments come after Argentina lost the final, with BBC reporting the match ended 1-0 against Spain. Other sources repeat that Messi was unable to lead Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup title following the loss. In their accounts, the central theme is Messi’s reflection on the aftermath of the final, describing the defeat as a wound that will require time to recover from. The reports present Messi’s remarks as personal on the impact of the result, rather than as commentary on specific gameplay or decisions. Overall, the coverage agrees on the timing of his statement (Monday), the substance of his quote about the pain, and that Argentina’s defeat in the final prevents a back-to-back World Cup triumph.