‘Even when the referees took the wrong positions’: Argentina president Javier Milei on defeat to Spain in the World Cup final | Football news

Argentinian Lionel Messi. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

World Cup runners-up Argentina quietly returned home after a 1-0 defeat to Spain, with president Javier Milei revealing the players had decided not to hold a victory parade or public celebration. Despite several offers from the government, the team decided they were too disappointed with the final defeat to celebrate.Speaking to LN+, Milei said that players were offered multiple ways to celebrate their campaign, but they turned them all down.“The players were given the opportunity to organize six different celebrations. But, clearly, due to the sadness caused by not being able to win the final, they decided not to organize any celebrations,” he said.The president also offered to host the team at the Casa Rosada if they won the World Cup, and later proposed a national holiday after the runners-up finish, but those plans were shelved following the players’ decision.Speaking about the defeat, he added: “The game was extremely difficult for us on Sunday, and yet Argentina could have equalized in the final minutes, although the flow of the game was not in Argentina’s favor at all.”However, he praised the national team, saying that Argentina “always took positions and behaved measuredly during the entire tournament, even in moments when the referees took irregular positions towards the Argentine national team in some matches, because they responded very measuredly and organized, and always distinguished themselves by fighting until the end”.Milei also defended Lionel Messi, who did not return to Argentina with the rest of the squad.“I think we have a lot to thank Messi for, for all the wonderful things he has done on the pitch. And for us, those of us who love football, there are no words to describe it,” he said, calling Messi “the best player of all time,” he added. The president also urged fans to respect Messi’s choice to stay away, saying: “I don’t think this is a moment where he feels comfortable, and that should also be taken into account.”Reflecting on the final, Milei felt Argentina had suffered from poor refereeing throughout the tournament, but praised the players for keeping their composure. He also described Spain as a “terrible opponent” and said Argentina fought to the very end despite difficult circumstances.