Argentina squad returns without Messi following World Cup final defeat
Thousands gather at Ezeiza International Airport to welcome Lionel Scaloni and the remaining players after a 1-0 loss to Spain, while tensions flare at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires.
The Argentina national football team returned to Buenos Aires on Monday following their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final held in the United States. The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) confirmed that captain Lionel Messi and several other squad members did not return on the team flight, a move substantiated by local television broadcasts showing Messi absent from the aircraft disembarkation.
Coach Lionel Scaloni and the remaining players were greeted at Ezeiza International Airport by a military band and a red carpet. Thousands of supporters, draped in national flags and holding blue-and-white umbrellas, braved cold and rainy conditions to welcome the squad. The reception stood in stark contrast to the massive street celebrations that followed Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, though many fans remained to express gratitude for the team’s performance.
The final match, won by Spain through a 105th-minute goal from Ferran Torres, has drawn criticism for a high number of fouls and displays of poor sportsmanship by the Argentine side. Despite the loss, which prevented Argentina from retaining the title, attendees at the airport expressed loyalty to the squad. Marga Ledezma, a fan who urged Messi not to retire from international football, stated that Argentinians would celebrate regardless of the outcome, thanking the captain for his past contributions.
Supporters also highlighted the significance of the 2-1 semifinal victory over England, played against the backdrop of the ongoing sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands. Leonardo Barrientos, a textile worker attending the welcome, noted that the team had united the country and deserved continued support. Maria Ortiz, who attended with her two-year-old child, acknowledged that Spain deserved the win but expressed happiness at what the team had provided to the public.
Tensions escalated later in the evening as thousands of fans gathered at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires for celebrations. Late at night, brief clashes broke out among the crowd, prompting police to deploy water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the revellers. Police sources confirmed that fifteen people were detained following the incidents. While Spain received a formal state welcome in Madrid attended by an estimated 1.8 million people, Argentina’s return was marked by a mix of solemn gratitude and civil unrest.
