The captain of Argentina national football team, Lionel Messi, has expressed his disappointment after the cancellation of the Finalissima match, a clash he saw as an important competitive opportunity ahead of the FIFA World Cup, according to reports from ESPN.
The captain of Inter Miami CF, who recently won the MLS Cup with his club, was reportedly not involved in the discussions that led to the cancellation of the match. According to the source, Messi had approached this challenge with great ambition, aiming to add another trophy to his career.
The match between Argentina national football team, winners of the Copa América 2024, and Spain national football team, champions of UEFA Euro 2024, was scheduled to take place on March 27 in Qatar, but it was cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“After many discussions between UEFA and the organizing authorities in Qatar, it was announced today that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima cannot be held as planned in Qatar,” UEFA said in its statement.
The organization added that alternative dates and venues for the match were also considered, but they were ultimately not accepted by the Argentine Football Association.
Meanwhile, CONMEBOL confirmed that Argentina had accepted the possibility of the match being played in a neutral venue in Europe, proposing March 31 as the date. However, UEFA considered that date unfeasible, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the match.
Messi, the most decorated player in the history of football, will now wait for the next opportunity to add more trophies to his extraordinary career, while the World Cup remains the next major competitive stage for him. ⚽
