Lionel Messi’s bid to end his World Cup career with another winners’ medal fell short on Sunday, but former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes the Argentina captain’s remarkable tournament should not be forgotten after Spain claimed the title.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to hand La Roja their second world crown.
Speaking on FOX Sports after the final, Ibrahimovic paid tribute to Messi’s influence throughout Argentina’s run to the final.
“We have enjoyed him during this World Cup,” Ibrahimovic said. “I know he’s sad he didn’t win the World Cup, but he had an amazing World Cup. He kept this team alive. He did some amazing stuff.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner once again led Argentina’s attack at 39 years old, finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists.
Messi scored in each of Argentina’s opening five matches before taking on a deeper creative role during the knockout rounds. He supplied three assists across the quarter-final against Switzerland and the semi-final victory over England, including two in the comeback win over the Three Lions.
Ibrahimovic said Messi continued to produce moments beyond ordinary football.
“He had moments where he was human. He had moments where he wasn’t human.”
Messi also added another milestone to his glittering career by taking his World Cup goal tally to 21 during the tournament, briefly becoming the competition’s all-time leading scorer before France captain Kylian Mbappe overtook him with two goals in the third-place play-off.
The final, however, proved a frustrating evening for the Argentina captain. Spain’s organised defence restricted Lionel Scaloni’s side to just two attempts throughout the match. Messi managed only one shot and rarely found space against Luis de la Fuente’s disciplined side.
Despite the defeat, Messi’s displays throughout the tournament strengthened his reputation as one of football’s greatest players and raised fresh questions over his international future after an emotional medal ceremony.
“I hope he can continue to play as much as possible, so we can enjoy him even more,” Ibrahimovic added. “Will we see him in another World Cup? I don’t know, you never know. But we’ve enjoyed him, and we’re going to be very sad when he stops playing.”
Whether or not the final marked Messi’s last World Cup appearance, Ibrahimovic believes the Argentine leaves the tournament with his legacy enhanced rather than diminished.
