Martinez: Argentina must forget World Cup heartache and celebrate Messi

Lisandro Martinez says Argentina's players are determined to put their World Cup final heartache behind them and savour Lionel Messi's international send-off next month.

The Albiceleste could have become the first back-to-back winners of FIFA's showpiece tournament since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, after Messi inspired them to a final appearance in North America this summer.

However, Enzo Fernandez's red card proved costly as Spain beat them 1-0 in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the all-important goal.

Argentina have now been World Cup runners-up four times (also in 1930, 1990 and 2014), the joint-most of any nation alongside West Germany/Germany, and they became the first team to not attempt a single shot in regulation time of a World Cup final.

But Manchester United defender Martinez says the time has come for Lionel Scaloni's side to put that defeat behind them, as they prepare to say goodbye to a legend.

Having announced his decision to retire from international football following the World Cup, Messi will make a farewell appearance at a friendly against Benin on October 5.

Bolivia and Burkina Faso will be Argentina's opponents before that match, which will see members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad come together for a celebration of Messi's career at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. 

"There's a lot of pain, preferably we don't remember it, but we must also highlight the tremendous effort we made throughout the tournament," Martinez told ESPN Argentina.

"Without a doubt, we had a great World Cup, but it hurts us all to have lost the final. 

"Now we are here, back in our country, and we are going to enjoy ourselves."

Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, leading his country's all-time charts in both categories, with his last strike coming in their dramatic World Cup round-of-16 victory over Egypt this summer.

No player has directly contributed to more goals at the World Cup on record (since 1966) than Messi (33 – 21 goals and 12 assists), who has also featured in the most games at the finals (34).

Messi's 12 assists in the competition are also the most of any player, four more than the great Diego Maradona (eight), while only Kylian Mbappe (22 goals) has netted more often, though Messi was the first to surpass Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals this year.