Lionel Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario on Tuesday for a short period of respite following Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, with hundreds of fans gathering before dawn hoping to catch a glimpse of their captain.Messi’s private plane landed near Rosario at 6:27 a.m. local time after a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just two days after Argentina lost 1-0 in extra time to Spain in New Jersey.
Although fans lined up at the airport carrying Argentine flags and welcome banners, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner did not appear in public. Instead, fans only caught a glimpse of the SUV carrying Messi, his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three sons before heading to the family home in the exclusive Funes neighborhood, about 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires.According to an AP report, many fans arrived as early as 3:30 a.m. (local time), hoping to welcome the man who inspired Argentina’s run to a second consecutive World Cup final.Messi is also expected to reunite with his father, Jorge Messi, who was undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness during the World Cup.He watches:
An emotional message after another unforgettable World Cup
Messi’s return comes after he shared an emotional message reflecting Argentina’s campaign and congratulating Spain for lifting the cup.
“The pain is enormous, and it will take some time for this wound to heal,” Messi wrote on Instagram. “But I also hold on to all the good… the games we turned around and gave everything we had… this group reached the World Cup finals twice in a row.”The Argentine captain also thanked the fans for standing by the team throughout the tournament.“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again, we have been able to unite as a country…
He added: “I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the tournament.”The 39-year-old finished the tournament with eight goals, and finished second in the Golden Boot race behind Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, who scored 10 goals.
Fans celebrate despite the final defeat
Argentina’s World Cup journey ended when Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give Spain a 1-0 win after extra time and secure La Roja’s second world title.Despite the disappointment, thousands of fans gathered at the famous obelisk in Buenos Aires after the final, waving flags, singing and celebrating the team that was one win away from retaining the World Cup.Earlier, 15 members of the Argentina squad, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, also returned to Buenos Aires on a chartered plane.For Messi, the visit to Rosario offers an opportunity to recharge his batteries after another difficult World Cup before he returns to club duties with Inter Miami, where the MLS season is expected to resume in late July or early August.
