Time to break the staff, bury the book, and call time on that rough magic. Lionel Messi’s third World Cup final ended not with a triumphant roar but with a quiet walk off the pitch in New Jersey, as Spain’s methodical system suffocated Argentina’s faith-based offense. The deus ex machina refused to appear, and the 39-year-old genius spent 120 minutes looking like a minor uncle at a wedding, mostly getting out of the way while Spain passed the ball 715 times.

Spain won 1-0 on a goal by Ferran Torres, their 20th shot compared to Argentina’s zero. The victory made Spain the clear best team at this World Cup, having beaten both finalists from Qatar and neutralized the hammer of England. Argentina, meanwhile, offered little beyond a gnarled sense of resistance and the hope that Messi might do something magical. He didn’t.

Messi’s final moments included taking Argentina’s last corners, wringing out the last dusting of dip and veer, and then bending at the waist to stare at the turf when Torres scored. He kept walking as the final whistle blew, not breaking stride while Spain celebrated. It felt like the end of an era, which it almost certainly is. Messi will continue with Inter Miami, but this stage - the World Cup - has likely seen the last of him. Spain’s system won the day, proving that even irrational magic has an expiration date, especially when you’re 39 and playing against a team that passes like a Star Trek society.