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Is there a more dedicated fan base in international football than that of Argentina? The scenes after Sunday’s loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final again made that question difficult to answer.Instead of leaving in silence after the 1-0 overtime loss, Argentina fans stayed to cheer on their team. They sang their football anthems, chanted “Messsiii, Messsiii” around the stadium and applauded the players long after the final whistle.The same emotion was visible thousands of kilometers away in Buenos Aires, where fans gathered around the city’s obelisk to thank the team despite the defeat. Their message was simple: “Gracias iguales.”READ ALSO: Lionel Messi leaves the FIFA World Cup in tears and as the greatest football championThe fans were hoping for a new comeback until the final whistle. But after Spain sealed victory, disappointment gradually gave way to gratitude for a campaign that took Argentina to the World Cup finals once again.At the Obelisk, a traditional gathering place for football celebrations in Argentina’s capital, fans who had gathered a few hours before kick-off first stood in silence before starting to sing in honor of the team.“We made it to the finals, which is no small feat,” said 20-year-old student Luciano Ortega with a smile, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.As the evening progressed (local time), more and more fans poured into the square. Drums, fireworks, firecrackers and car horns filled the air as fans continued to chant despite the result.Argentina president Javier Milei also praised the team, posting on X: “Thank you so much, players! You fought until the very end. Argentina is always on top.”in Rosario, Lionel MessiIn his hometown, about 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, hundreds gathered at the Monumento Nacional a la Bandera to greet the team after the final.The monument was lit up in Argentina’s national colors as fans waved flags, wore national team jerseys and held photos of Messi as fireworks lit up the night sky.“We’ve already won the World Cup. We shouldn’t just cry, we should celebrate. “Messi has already 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 soccer body CONMEBOL also acknowledged the scenes, posting a video of the celebrations on X with the caption: “Despite the result, Argentina appreciated their team’s campaign.”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 defeat ended an impressive title defense that began after lifting the trophy in Qatar four years ago. It also came in what is widely expected to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance.Even after the defeat, the mood across Buenos Aires reflected more pride than disappointment. The fans decided to celebrate a team that reached another World Cup final and stayed in the competition until Ferran Torres scored the game-winning goal in extra time.
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