Read 3 minutesUpdated: 21 July 2026 11:48 AM IST
Lionel Scaloni and the rest of Argentina’s World Cup squad were greeted with a red carpet and military band as they returned home without captain Lionel Messi and a handful of other players after losing to Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey, United States.
Argentina fans weren’t expecting a homecoming, as the result in 2022 was expected to be the same. After Qatar won the World Cup, millions of fans took to the streets of Argentina to celebrate their historic win, but this year the number of fans who turned out was also driven by their team’s performance in reaching the finals.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on Monday that some members of the squad would not be returning to Argentina, and images broadcast on local television did not show Messi’s name getting off the plane.
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After what was considered to be the last World Cup outing for the legendary Argentina, Messi decided to stay in the United States and moved back to Miami, where he plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Inter Miami club.
Other players not returning to Argentina include Rodrigo de Paul — Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami — as well as Enzo Fernandez, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Cristian Romero, Geronimo Rulli, Nicolas Paz, Nahuero, Geronimo Rulli, according to Argentine sports media.
Messi, who played the full 120 minutes against Spain in the World Cup final, will have some time off before returning to club football with Miami as he recovers both physically and mentally after playing through a tournament-packed schedule.
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Both Messi and teammate De Paul will miss the next two matches for Inter Miami, as sources say both will definitely be out for the matches against Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday, July 22 and CF Montreal on Saturday, July 25.