Messi spoke honestly after Argentina lost the World Cup title

Lionel Messi posted a motivational message on social media, addressing the Argentina U20 team after their loss to Morocco in the 2025 U20 World Cup final.

Lionel Messi watched the 2025 U20 World Cup final, where the Argentina U20 team suffered a bitter defeat against Morocco. After the match, the national team captain and football icon from Argentina sent a heartfelt message of support to the younger players.

On his personal Instagram page, Messi wrote: "Keep your heads held high, boys. You have had an incredible journey. Although we all wished to see you lift the trophy, what remains is the joy from your dedication and the pride in watching you fight with all your heart for the blue and white jersey."

Entering the match as favorites, Argentina U20 faced an early shock when Morocco scored within the first 15 minutes. The African side played tightly and counterattacked sharply, adding another goal to nearly seal the final in the first half.

Despite having more ball possession, Argentina U20 could not make a difference. Morocco U20 displayed composure and discipline throughout the 90 minutes. In the end, Morocco U20 won convincingly thanks to smart tactics and capitalizing on the opponent’s mistakes. Though painful, this defeat is a valuable lesson for Argentina’s young generation.

In his career, Messi was eligible for two U20 World Cups but only participated once. However, that was enough to prove his exceptional talent.

At the 2005 U20 World Cup in the Netherlands, Messi shone brilliantly, playing a key role in helping Argentina secure their fifth title in history. To date, the Argentine team has won the U20 World Cup six times, the most among all participating nations.

In that tournament, Messi scored six goals, including a brace in the final against Nigeria, leading Argentina U20 to a 2-1 victory. His outstanding performance earned him both the Golden Ball for the best player and the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer.

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