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Lionel Messi returned to his hometown of Rosario on Tuesday for a short rest following Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with hundreds of fans 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 taking off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just two days after Argentina lost 1-0 in extra time to Spain in New Jersey.Although fans lined the airport carrying Argentine flags and welcoming banners, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner did not make a public appearance. Instead, fans caught a glimpse of the SUV that picked up Messi, his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three sons before heading to the family residence in the private district of Funes, about 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires.According to an AP report, many fans arrived as early as 3:30 a.m. (local time), hoping to welcome home the man who inspired Argentina to a second straight World Cup final.Messi is also expected to reunite with his father, Jorge Messi, who underwent treatment for an undisclosed illness during the World Cup.WATCH:
An emotional message after another unforgettable World Cup
Messi’s return comes after he shared an emotional message in which he reflected on Argentina’s campaign and congratulated Spain on lifting the trophy.“The pain is huge and it will take time for this wound to heal,” Messi wrote on Instagram. “But I’m also holding on to all the good… The games we’ve turned around, giving it our all… this group has reached two consecutive World Cup finals.”The Argentina captain also thanked the fans for being with the team throughout the tournament.“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and every message. Once again we managed to unite as a country… “I also want to congratulate Spain for winning the championship,” he added.The 39-year-old finished the tournament with eight goals, finishing second in the race for the Golden Boot behind France Kylian Mbappewho scored 10.
The fans celebrate despite the final defeat
Argentina’s trip to the World Cup ended when Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give Spain a 1-0 extra-time win to secure La Roja’s second World Cup title.Despite the disappointment, thousands of fans gathered at the iconic Obelisk in Buenos Aires after the final, waving flags, singing and celebrating a team that came just one win away from retaining the World Cup.Earlier, 15 members of the Argentine team, 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 returning to club duties with Inter Miami, where the MLS season is expected to resume in late July or early August.
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