‘The greats’ downfall delights the mediocre’: Martínez post-World Cup | OneFootball

Argentina national team defender Lisandro Martínez used his official Instagram account to express his feelings after finishing as runner-up at the 2026 World Cup. Through a heartfelt post, the Manchester United footballer combined the pain of not having won the title with deep pride in the journey, and left a strong message aimed at his detractors.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Lisandro Martinez (@lisandromartinez)

“With pain in my soul for not having been able to bring home the cup we all wanted, but with immense pride for this shirt,” the center-back began. In his message, Martínez extended his gratitude to the entire delegation in the United States, mentioning his teammates, the coaching staff led by Lionel Scaloni, executives, medical staff, cooks, and kit managers. He also dedicated a special paragraph to the Argentine fans: “You sent us all your love, all your strength, that passion that defines us so much, and the unity of a country that I hope endures over time.”

In a gesture of sportsmanship, the defender also took a moment to acknowledge the rival that was crowned in the decisive match. “I want to congratulate Spain on their well-deserved title,” he said plainly.

Speaking to the fans, the defender stressed the value of the effort made by the Scaloneta throughout the international tournament, regardless of the defeat in the final. “The result does not define the path we traveled. We went through adversity, made possible what seemed impossible, and never looked for excuses, only found reasons to keep going,” he reflected.

However, the most striking part — and the one that caused the biggest stir on social media — was a sharp phrase he included near the end of the post, interpreted as a response to the criticism aimed at the squad: “Remember that ‘the fall of the great is the happiness of the mediocre.’”

Finally, the defender ended his message with a show of affection for the country and a commitment looking ahead to the future:

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.