Argentina starting left-back Nicolás Tagliafico has announced that the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States was his last. Speaking on his personal Twitch channel during a live stream broadcast, the Olympique de Lyon defender said he no longer has the capacity to compete in another World Cup.
The defender, who praised the team's performance, said supporters should feel proud of Argentina reaching the final to finish as runners-up. He noted that people must know how to lose, adding that the squad gave everything to reach back-to-back World Cup finals after winning the tournament in Qatar in 2022.
Tagliafico was a key performer for Argentina throughout the tournament, recognized for his consistency and defensive composure in one-on-one duels. During the stream, an activity he regularly pursues during rest periods, he shared details about team life inside the camp and mentioned his future plans to become a coach.
Tournament run and physical strain
Reflecting on the campaign, the former Banfield player said reaching the final required immense effort that left the squad physically and mentally exhausted. He explained that advancing through rounds with intense suffering until the final minute takes a severe mental toll on players.
Tagliafico described Argentina's semi-final victory over England as a crazy match. Turning to the final against Spain, he admitted the Spanish side played very well and deserved their victory. He acknowledged that Argentina performed poorly in the final, though the squad believed until Spain scored that they could hold out to win on penalties.
He contrasted the match with the 2022 final against France, noting that Argentina played very well in Qatar and nearly let the title slip away due to small details.
Career statistics and future targets
The former Independiente defender highlighted that he has now played 17 matches across his appearances in World Cup finals. Tagliafico stated that his primary remaining objective with the national team is to reach 100 caps for Argentina.
He currently has 83 international appearances for his country. Tagliafico added that he valued the 2026 tournament much more than previous competitions precisely because he knew it would be his final World Cup.
