The Elegy of a Golden Generation: How Spain's World Cup Win Exposed the Flaws of Messi's Argentina As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, Lionel Messi's international career drew to a close with an unceremonious whimper rather than a triumphant bang.
The Argentine legend's pursuit of immortality had been touted as one of the greatest storylines of this World Cup, but it was Spain's unsung heroes who ultimately stole the show.
Argentina's lackluster performance told a stark tale: six shots on target, with only one on goal.