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Thousands of people wait to greet the team, which returns without captain Messi and a few other players after the World Cup.
Published on 20 Jul 2026
Thousands of Argentines lined up to welcome their soccer team, which returned without legendary captain Lionel Messi and a few other players after losing to Spain in the World Cup final in the United States.
The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) said on Monday that some of the squad would not be on the trip, and Messi was not seen getting off the plane in footage broadcast on local television.
Coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team were welcomed with a red carpet outside the plane by the army.
Thousands of fans braved the cold and rain, waiting outside the AFA training ground near Ezeiza International Airport to welcome the players, wearing flags and holding blue and white umbrellas to protect them from the wind.
It wasn’t the return home Argentines were hoping for, four years after millions filled the streets to celebrate their team’s 2022 triumph, but many thanked the team for their success.
“Thank you to Messi”
“Argentinians will still celebrate,” said Marga Ledezma, 36, who thanked Messi for “all the years he made us happy”, and urged him not to stop playing for Argentina.
Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain, failing to make it back-to-back World Cup wins in a game that was criticized for a number of mistakes and a poor performance from La Albiceleste.
“I think they criticize us because we know what it’s like to suffer, that we get up, we fall again, and we keep going,” Ledezma said.
Many fans pointed out that Argentina’s real victory was a 2-1 victory in the semifinal against England, which was played against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute between the countries over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
“This team has united us all, and we should be thankful for that. We will always be with them, rain or shine. I can say thanks to Messi, and he did everything,” said Leonardo Barrientos, 36, who works in the textile industry.
Maria Ortiz, 28, came to welcome the team with her two-year-old son, and said Spain “deserved to win” but “was happy with what the team gave us”.
Although many Argentines were lost, thousands of Argentines went to the Obelisk ceremony in Buenos Aires, where they spent many hours on Sunday evening, with fireworks and thanks to their team.
During the night, riots broke out at the monument, and the police used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. Fifteen people were arrested, according to a police statement.
