Thousands of passionate fans courageously faced the cold and rain on Monday to warmly welcome the Argentine football squad back home, despite the absence of star player Lionel Messi following their World Cup final loss to Spain.
While this homecoming did not match the jubilant celebrations of four years ago, when millions rejoiced in their team’s 2022 victory, the streets erupted in joyful chaos as fans danced, sang, and set off fireworks to express their gratitude to the players.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) had previously announced that several squad members would not be on the flight, and local television images confirmed that iconic captain Messi did not descend from the aircraft.
Coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team received a red-carpet welcome outside the aircraft, accompanied by a military band.
They boarded a bus, waving enthusiastically to the excited fans along the route.
Despite falling short of a second consecutive championship, housewife Marga Ledezma emphasized, “Argentines will celebrate anyway.” She expressed her gratitude to Messi for “all the years he made us happy,” urging him not to retire from playing for Argentina, though she acknowledged the challenge given his age of 39.
Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain drew criticism from international media for numerous fouls and displays of poor sportsmanship from the Albicelestes.
Ledezma reflected, “They criticize us because we understand suffering; we rise up, fall down again, and keep moving forward.”
Many fans noted that the true victory for Argentina lay in their 2-1 semi-final triumph over England, set against the backdrop of a long-standing dispute between the nations over the Falkland Islands.
Some fans proudly carried flags proclaiming, “The Falklands are Argentine.”
FIFA is currently investigating the Argentine team after players displayed a banner with this phrase following their win against England, which ignited backlash from London.
– ‘The pain is immense’ –
“This team united us all, and we should be grateful for that. We will always support them, rain or shine. I want to thank Messi for giving it his all,” said 36-year-old Leonardo Barrientos, who works in a textile workshop.
Maria Ortiz, 28, welcomed the team alongside her two-year-old, acknowledging that while Spain “deserved the win,” she felt “happy for what the team gave us.”
Messi shared on Instagram on Monday, “The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal.”
He also expressed, “I’ll cherish all the good memories,” alongside a photo of himself. “Today, it’s hard to appreciate what we achieved, but this squad reached two consecutive World Cup finals.”
In light of the tournament’s conclusion, President Javier Milei announced plans for a future public holiday to celebrate the team’s World Cup performance, with more details forthcoming.
While feeling disheartened by the loss, thousands of Argentines flocked to the traditional celebration point at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, where they partied for hours on Sunday evening.
Later that night, brief clashes erupted at the monument, leading police to disperse the crowd using water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Reports indicate that fifteen individuals were detained, according to police sources.
