Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said he was left heartbroken after his team lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain on Sunday.
Spain defeated the defending champions 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to win their second World Cup title.
The match was decided in the second half of extra time when Spain substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal. Argentina played the closing stages with 10 men after a red card and could not find an equalizer.
The defeat ended Argentina's bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. It was likely the final World Cup appearance for Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to the title in Qatar in 2022.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Scaloni became emotional and briefly left the stage as reporters applauded him. He said he never imagined being in that position and that the team now needs time to reset. He apologized to supporters and said his staff and players had given everything to reach the final.
Scaloni also said he needs time to think about his future, stating he was unsure if he could lead a project as big as this again. He led Argentina to Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024 and the World Cup in 2022.