Thousands greet Argentina squad in Buenos Aires after World Cup final defeat

BUENOS AIRES: Thousands of supporters gathered in cold and rainy conditions on Monday to welcome Argentina's national football team back home after its defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, although captain Lionel Messi was not among the players seen arriving.

According to the Argentine Football Association, some members of the squad were not on the return flight. Television images showed coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team being received on a red carpet beside the aircraft, with a military band also present. The squad then boarded a bus and acknowledged cheering fans lining the route.

The homecoming came four years after mass celebrations followed Argentina's World Cup triumph in 2022. This time, despite losing the final, supporters still turned out in large numbers, singing, dancing and setting off fireworks in tribute to the team.

Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain after extra time in Sunday's final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal, ending Argentina's attempt to retain the title and denying them what would have been the first successful men's World Cup defence since Brazil in 1962.

Fans back team despite defeat

Several supporters said they still wanted to thank the players for their run to a second straight World Cup final. Housewife Marga Ledezma, 36, said Argentines would celebrate regardless of the result and thanked Messi for the joy he had brought over the years. She also urged him not to retire from international football, while acknowledging the difficulty of continuing at his age.

Ledezma also responded to criticism of Argentina's conduct during the final, which international media reports said featured numerous fouls and poor sportsmanship from the Albiceleste.

I think they criticize us because we know what it's like to suffer, that we get up, we fall down again, and we keep going

Leonardo Barrientos, 36, who works in a textile workshop, said the team had united the country and deserved gratitude from supporters regardless of the weather. Maria Ortiz, 28, who attended with her two-year-old child, said Spain deserved to win but added that she remained pleased with what Argentina had given its fans during the tournament.

Messi's message and tournament milestones

Messi wrote on Instagram on Monday that the defeat would take time to process, while also highlighting the achievement of reaching back-to-back finals.

the pain is immense and it's going to take a long time for this wound to heal.

Alongside a photo of himself, he added:

I'll also hold on to all the good memories

Today it's hard to appreciate what we achieved, but this squad reached two consecutive World Cup finals.

Messi also congratulated Spain and said Argentina could be proud of making consecutive finals. He added:

Once again, we managed to come together as a country and stand united, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.

The 39-year-old became only the second player after Brazil's Cafu to appear in three men's World Cup finals, having featured in the title matches in 2014, 2022 and this year. The Inter Miami forward remains Argentina's most decorated player, having captained the country to the 2022 World Cup, Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima. He is also an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Political overtones and unrest after the final

Some fans said Argentina's 2-1 semi-final victory over England was the team's defining moment of the tournament, given the continuing dispute between the two countries over the Falkland Islands. A number of supporters carried flags bearing the message The Falklands are Argentine.

FIFA is investigating the Argentina team after players displayed a banner with that phrase following the win over England, prompting backlash in London.

With the tournament over, President Javier Milei announced that a future date, to be agreed with the team, would be declared a public holiday to celebrate Argentina's World Cup campaign. No further details were announced.

After the final, thousands of people also gathered at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, the traditional focal point for football celebrations, and continued festivities for hours on Sunday night. Later, brief clashes broke out at the monument and police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse revellers. Police sources said 15 people were detained.