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Messi seated on the grass, seen from behind and turning his head, in the Argentina number 10 shirt.

Messi Lost His Last World Cup Final. This Is His Whole Story

Publishes Sunday 1 November 2026, 3 PM UK. Running time .

Talisman on YouTube

Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026. Photo: Bryan Berlin / CC BY-SA 4.0

A napkin contract, four lost finals, a World Cup, and one last World Cup final in tears.

Lionel Messi’s story, with every fact cited.

Chapters, each as wide as its running time

  1. Intro
  2. Rosario
  3. The Napkin
  4. The Breakthrough
  5. The Peak
  6. The Weight of the Shirt
  7. Goodbye, Barcelona
  8. Champion of the World
  9. Miami
  10. One Last Dance
  11. Legacy
  12. Credits

Frames from the Messi film, one for each chapter. See the credits.

The film, chapter by chapter

  1. Intro

    0:08 Small figures crossing a sunlit pitch.

    54

    touches of the ball

    World Cup final 2026, v Spain.

  2. Rosario

    A house in the Rosario neighbourhood where Messi grew up.
    1:04 A house in the Rosario neighbourhood where Messi grew up. Photo: TitiNicola / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Lionel Andrés Messi

    Born 24 June 1987. Rosario, Santa Fe Province.

    Six boys in red and black, walking behind a ball.
    1:34 Six boys in red and black, walking behind a ball.
    A man and a small boy waiting in a clinic corridor.
    1:43 A man and a small boy waiting in a clinic corridor.

  3. The Napkin

    An empty tennis court at night, with a house and two umbrella pines behind it.
    2:33 An empty tennis court at night.

    £762,400

    the napkin’s price

    Bonhams auction, May 2024.

    A hand on an aeroplane window, pink clouds outside.
    3:07 A hand on an aeroplane window, pink clouds outside.

  4. The Breakthrough

    A packed stadium at dusk, flags in the far stand.
    4:19 A packed stadium at dusk, flags in the far stand.

  5. The Peak

    89,102

    people at the Bird’s Nest

    Olympic final, Beijing, v Nigeria. His pass in the 58th minute set up Di María’s winner.

    5:26 A white ball rolling across mown grass.
    Messi in Barcelona colours, alongside a Juventus player. 2015 Champions League final, Berlin.
    7:01 Messi in Barcelona colours, alongside a Juventus player. 2015 Champions League final, Berlin. Photo: Biser Todorov / CC BY 3.0

  6. The Weight of the Shirt

    A man in a long coat, walking past a plinth in the rain.
    7:43 A man in a long coat, walking past a plinth in the rain.
    A lone player walking towards a distant goal.
    8:02 A lone player walking towards a distant goal.
    A striped shirt on a hook in an empty dressing room.
    8:32 A striped shirt on a hook in an empty dressing room.

  7. Goodbye, Barcelona

    Messi from behind, in a Barcelona shirt with a yellow 10.
    9:17 Messi from behind, in a Barcelona shirt with a yellow 10. Photo: Hugo Pérez Marsol / CC BY 2.0
    A worn suitcase, boots and packing boxes in slatted sun.
    9:57 A worn suitcase, boots and packing boxes in slatted sun.

  8. Champion of the World

    Lusail Stadium, Qatar, from the air.
    11:08 Lusail Stadium, Qatar, from the air. Photo: Djawed_vlog / CC BY 3.0

    88,966

    people in the stadium

    Lusail. 3-3, and Argentina win the shootout 4-2. Golden Ball, his second after 2014. 7 goals, 3 assists, a record 26 World Cup matches.

    11:30 The Obelisco, Buenos Aires, from the air. Video: Coverr

  9. Miami

    Inter Miami players in pink at night, Inter Miami v Real Salt Lake.
    13:09 Inter Miami players in pink at night, Inter Miami v Real Salt Lake. Photo: TheSoccerBoy / CC BY 4.0
    14:04 Gold and silver paper strips falling onto grass against a pink sky.
    The Miami skyline at night, across dark water.
    14:39 The Miami skyline at night, across dark water. Photo: Don Ramey Logan / CC BY 4.0

  10. One Last Dance

    Messi on the grass, Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026.
    14:54 Messi on the grass, Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026. Photo: Bryan Berlin / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Lautaro Martinez with his arm around Messi, Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026.
    15:13 Lautaro Martinez with his arm around Messi, Argentina v Egypt, 7 July 2026. Photo: Bryan Berlin / CC BY-SA 4.0
    A striped shirt and a folded armband on a bed.
    16:43 A striped shirt and a folded armband on a bed.
    Fireworks and smoke above the rim of a stadium.
    16:51 Fireworks and smoke above the rim of a stadium.

  11. Legacy

    17:46 A low move along a touchline, pink lit seats behind.
    The Monumento a la Bandera, Rosario, at dawn.
    18:18 The Monumento a la Bandera, Rosario, at dawn. Photo: Scarabinol / CC BY-SA 4.0

  12. Credits

    A Talisman film.

    Narrated by Talisman. The sources are listed in the description.

Every fact is cited.

The sources shown include Al Jazeera, FIFA, FC Barcelona and Sports Illustrated.

Facts are as of 31 October 2026. The sources are listed in the description.

The Rosario riverfront at night, with lights across the water under an orange sky.

Sunday 1 November, 3 PM UK.

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The Rosario riverfront at night. Photo: Norberto Kolus / CC BY-SA 3.0