The World Cup final defeat to Spain proved to be the final act of one of Argentina‘s players, who has now announced their international retirement.

La Albiceleste surrendered their world title crown after suffering a loss in extra time during a controversial final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19th. Ferran Torres scored a 106th-minute winner to break Argentine hearts.

Lionel Messi was in tears after the game, with speculation growing over the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s future with his national team. His manager, Lionel Scaloni, has also hinted that he may leave his role, and one of the old guard has already confirmed their time is up.

Argentina Hero Announces Retirement

REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Argentina were deservedly beaten in a feisty affair which saw Enzo Fernandez sent off for two reckless bookable offenses. They were looking to win the tournament for a second consecutive time after becoming world champions in Qatar in 2022.

Nicolas Otamendi came on in the first half after Lisandro Martinez sustained a thigh injury and this was his final appearance. The former Manchester City centre-back released an emotional statement on his Instagram account:

“Today I have to write the most difficult words of my career. As fate would have it, ​my last match was a World Cup final. It wasn’t ‌the ⁠result we wanted, but I’m leaving with my head held high, knowing that this team gave it their all right up ​to the very ​last second.”

He added: “Thank ⁠you, Argentina, for allowing me to fulfil the dream of becoming ​a world champion.”

Otamendi, 38, earned his 139th international cap in the defeat to Spain, having been handed his debut by Diego Maradona back in May 2009. He has won the World Cup and two Copa America titles but played a bit-part role in this summer’s tournament.

This was his fourth World Cup campaign but while he’s now finished representing La Albiceleste his club career continues. He recently joined Argentine club River Plate after spending 16 years in Europe which included a five-year spell at City.

Is Lionel Messi Also Retiring?

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

The question on everybody’s lips is whether Messi will also call time on his international career after missing out on back-to-back World Cup glory. He once again starred for Argentina, registering eight goals and four assists.

At 39, it was almost certainly the Inter Miami forward’s final World Cup campaign, and his emotional reaction after the defeat suggested he might have played his last game for his country. beIN SPORTS relay reports in Argentina claim that the Barcelona icon isn’t quite finished just yet.

The plan is reportedly for Messi to continue playing for the next few months before retiring from international football. A special match is believed to be on the cards to allow fans to bid farewell to their hero and give him a proper send-off at an event in his homeland.

Scaloni downplayed suggestions of a rift with Messi after his captain’s half-time speech was put to him. The player told his teammates to ‘calm down’ and ‘forget everything ‘, which some are asserting was an assessment of the manager’s pragmatic game plan.

Messi posted a statement on Instagram after the defeat to Spain about the “immense pain” of losing the final. He thanked the fans and said he was proud to have once again united as a country and made it to two World Cup finals in a row.

One Liverpool defender is heading through the exit door in the summer transfer window, with The Athletic’s James Pearce providing an update.

Liverpool have been primarily focusing on bringing in new additions since the market opened, but they’ll also be looking to offload some of their stars.

With the Merseyside club looking to develop some of their young talent, we could also see some of them head out on loan during the summer transfer window.

As new signings arrive, spaces in the Andoni Iraola squad get fewer, meaning some players inevitably have to depart.

So far, Liverpool have offloaded Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah, who have all left on free transfers this summer.

Liverpool defender to leave

via Reuters

According to reliable Liverpool journalist James Pearce, defender Amara Nallo is set to join Finnish club HJK Helsinki on loan until the end of the season.

The report claims that Nallo was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their pre-season tour of the United States as he was in the process of finalising a loan move.

Liverpool believe that allowing him to play regular senior football will be beneficial to his development after a difficult start to life at the club.

At 19 years old, playing regularly is crucial for the young defender in order to reach the heights expected of him.

Nallo endured nightmare Liverpool start

Nallo’s start to life at senior level for Liverpool couldn’t have gone much worse.

Four minutes after coming on in his debut in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven, the young defender was sent off.

Nallo was then given an opportunity in the Carabao Cup, but it was a similar story against Crystal Palace.

Nallo was also sent off in that game nine months later and has been with the under-21s since.

It’s now an opportunity for the 19-year-old to reset and gain regular first-team football, hopefully putting his difficult time behind him.

Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche in the summer transfer window, and The Athletic’s James Pearce has provided an update on the situation.

The Merseyside club are in the market for a new winger in the summer as they look to find a replacement for Mohamed Salah, who left following the end of his contract at Anfield.

Victor Munoz has arrived through the door as a signing to improve their forward options, but Liverpool remain in the market for reinforcements in the final third.

It was a disappointing 25/26 season for the Reds, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them enjoy a busy final few weeks of the summer transfer window.

James Pearce: Akliouche to Liverpool update

via Reuters

Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, The Athletic reporter Pearce has shared what he’s hearing on Liverpool’s potential move to sign Akliouche in the summer transfer window.

The reliable journalist has confirmed that he has been told that there had been an approach from Liverpool earlier on in the window, and he’s one of the targets being assessed by the club.

Akliouche certainly feels like a more attainable target than Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.

The Monaco star should be a cheaper alternative, while PSG don’t appear to be willing to allow Barcola to leave at the moment.

Barcola is a target for Liverpool

Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters

Pearce has also recently confirmed that PSG’s Barcola is a player of interest to Liverpool in the summer window.

The journalist confirms that he is someone who features very, very highly on Liverpool’s targets, and if they are able to do a deal, they will.

“He’s certainly one who features very, very highly in their list of targets. I think if they were able to do that deal, they would do. There are a lot of moving parts, not least that are PSG definitely going to sanction his exit, and if so, at what price?”

It certainly feels like Barcola would be the priority target for the Merseyside club, but someone like Akliouche could be the cheaper option.