Is there a more devoted fanbase in international football than Argentina? The scenes on Sunday after Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final defeat once again made it difficult to answer the question.Instead of leaving quietly after the 1-0 loss in extra-time, Argentina supporters stayed to cheer on their team. They sang their football anthems, chanted “Messiii, Messsiii” around the stadium and applauded the players after the final whistle.The same emotion was visible thousands of kilometers away in Buenos Aires, where supporters gathered around the city’s Obelisk to thank the team despite the defeat. Their message is simple. “Thank you, equals.”ALSO READ: Lionel Messi came out of the FIFA World Cup in tears and as the greatest in footballFans kept hoping for another comeback until the final whistle. But when Spain sealed victory, the disappointment gradually gave way to an appreciation of the campaign that once again took Argentina to the World Cup final.At the Obelisk, the traditional venue for football celebrations in the Argentine capital, supporters who had gathered hours before kick-off first stood in silence before breaking into songs in honor of the team.“We reach the final, and that’s no small achievement,” said 20-year-old student Luciano Ortega with a smile, as quoted by the Buenos Aires Times.As the night wore on (local time), more fans poured into the square. Drums, firecrackers, fireworks and car horns filled the air as supporters continued to chant despite the result.Argentine President Javier Milei also praised the team, posting on X: “Thank you so much, players! You fought until the end. Argentina is always on top. “In Rosario, Lionel MessiThe hometown is about 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, hundreds gathered at the Monumento Nacional a la Bandera to salute the team after the final.The monument was lit in Argentina’s national colors as supporters waved flags, wore national team shirts and held up photos of Messi as fireworks lit up the night sky.“We have won a World Cup, let’s not just cry, let’s celebrate. Messi has taken us to the top of the world,” Sergio Irrazábal, who attended with his family wearing a light-blue-and-white wig, told AFP.South American football governing body CONMEBOL also acknowledged the scenes, posting a video of X’s celebrations with the caption. “Despite the result, Argentina appreciates the campaign of its team.”Spain’s win gave them their first World Cup title since 2010 and extended Luis de la Fuente’s side’s international unbeaten run to a European-record 38 matches.For Argentina, the loss ended an impressive title defense that began after lifting the trophy in Qatar four years ago. It also came in what many expected to be Lionel Messi’s last appearance at a World Cup.Even after the defeat, the mood throughout Buenos Aires reflected pride more than disappointment. Supporters chose to celebrate a team that reached another World Cup final and stayed in the contest until Ferran Torres scored the extra-time winner that settled the game.