Lionel Messi made his first public appearance since Argentina’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or choosing to spend time near home in Rosario before returning to club football with Inter Miami.The 39-year-old captain of Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final but could not prevent La Albiceleste from losing 1-0 after extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to give Spain their second world title.Messi once again proved central to Argentina’s run, finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists, although he was very emotional after the final whistle, leaving the pitch in tears after what many expected to be his final World Cup appearance.
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Since then, the Argentina captain has largely remained out of the public eye. He only posted a short message on social media after the defeat and did not travel back to Argentina with the rest of Lionel Scaloni’s squad, instead returning privately to his hometown of Rosario with his family.
First appearance since the World Cup final
Messi was filmed attending a local football match involving Leones FC, marking his first public appearance since the end of the World Cup.The video shared by Argentine outlet Cadena 3 Rosario shows the Inter Miami forward watching the match from the stadium balcony wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and cap. As the supporters saw him and started chanting his name, Messi smiled, waved and acknowledged the crowd before continuing to watch the game.The broadcaster later wrote on social media that Messi was in Arroyo Seco to watch Leones FC in action, sharing footage of the Argentine legend greeting visiting supporters.Earlier in the same day, other videos circulating on social media showed Messi walking the streets of Rosario with his children. Dressed in a jacket and hat, the World Cup-winning captain appeared quiet and reserved, with many supporters noting the difference between his subdued expression and his usually relaxed demeanor.
Support the family football project
The visit carries more meaning because Leones FC is closely connected to Messi and his family.Founded in 2015 by the Messi family, the club is led by his brother, Matías Messi, and currently competes in Argentina’s Primera C, the fourth level of the country’s football pyramid. The team plays its home matches at the Antonio Di Giacomo Stadium in Arroyo Seco, outside of Rosario.Messi’s appearance was widely seen by Argentine media as a show of support for the family-run project, which has grown steadily since its creation more than a decade ago.Although the visit attracted a lot of attention, it also showed the forward’s desire to spend time with his family in Rosario after one of the most difficult emotional defeats of his career.
Time to recover before Inter Miami returns
Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami soon as the MLS season continues, although the club is understood to be giving its captain time to recover physically and mentally following Argentina’s demanding World Cup campaign.The veteran forward carried Argentina through most of the tournament, once again showing his enduring quality despite being 39 years old during the competition. His performances helped guide the defending champions back to another World Cup final before Spain ended their title defense with Torres’ extra-time winner.For now, however, football has taken a back seat.Instead of immediately returning to club duties or media appearances, Messi chose to be familiar with Rosario, spend time with his family and support a local club that bears his family’s imprint before preparing for the next chapter of his career at Inter Miami.