Lionel Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario on Tuesday for a short period of rest after Argentina’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with hundreds of supporters gathering before dawn in the hope of catching a glimpse of their captain.Messi’s private jet landed near Rosario at 6:27 a.m. local time after flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just two days after Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in New Jersey.Although fans lined the airport carrying Argentine flags and welcome banners, the eight-time Ballon d’Or did not appear in public. However, the supporters saw only a passing glimpse of the SUV that collected Messi, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons before going to the family residence in the private neighborhood of Funes, about 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires.According to the AP report, many supporters arrived as early as 3:30 am (local time), hoping to welcome home the man who inspired Argentina’s run to a second consecutive World Cup final.Messi is also expected to be reunited with his father, Jorge Messi, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness while the World Cup is underway.WATCH:
An emotional message after another unforgettable World Cup
Messi’s return comes after he shared an emotional message reflecting Argentina’s campaign and congratulating Spain on lifting the trophy.“There is a lot of pain, and it will take time to heal this injury,” Messi wrote on Instagram. “But I also kept everything good … The matches we went back and forth, gave it our all … this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals.”The Argentina captain also thanked the supporters for standing by the team throughout the tournament.“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again, we were able to unite as a nation… I also want to congratulate Spain for winning the championship,” he added.The 39-year-old finished the tournament with eight goals, finishing as runner-up in the Golden Boot race behind France’s. Kylian Mbappewho scored 10.
The fans celebrated despite the final loss
Argentina’s World Cup journey ended when Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give Spain a 1-0 win after extra time and secure La Roja’s second world title.Despite the disappointment, thousands of supporters gathered at the iconic Obelisk in Buenos Aires after the final, waving flags, chanting and celebrating a team that came within one win of staying in the World Cup.Earlier, 15 members of the Argentina squad, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, also returned to Buenos Aires on a charter flight.For Messi, the visit to Rosario offers a chance to recharge after another demanding World Cup before he returns to club duties with Inter Miami, where he is expected to resume the MLS season in late July or early August.