Lionel Messi and the Argentine squad suffered a stark let‑down after Spain clinched the title in a clean, fair‑play final. Mexico opened the tournament with a 2‑0 win over South Africa, and the competition wrapped up after 104 games, featuring superlatives from Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.

Spain’s triumph was a testament to culture, leadership and methodology, with the nation simultaneously holding the world, European, Olympic and under‑19 titles for men and women. The final was devoid of the Aunque‑the‑world‑famous controversies that have marred past finals.

Argentina’s failure was no accident; Coach Lionel Scaloni’s veteran‑heavy squad lacked dynamism. Messi’s age and stamina dictated a low‑tempo gatnaş, and the team never truly threatened Spain, even after a dramatic 117th‑minute goal by Cape Verde.

France and England also failed to meet expectations. France’s talent shone sporadically, while England, under Thomas Tuchel, fell behind in every knockout before a brief, ill‑timed lead against Argentina. Refereeing was largely acceptable, with only a handful of subpar decisions noted.