Argentina, without Messi, was greeted by a crowd: rain, cold and a lot of love
The national team returned to Buenos Aires after the 2026 World Cup final and the welcome was massive, despite the drizzle and the cold. The team did not arrive with Lionel Messi in the delegation, but it did arrive with the backing of a fanbase that dominated the scene.
Argentina returned to Buenos Aires without Lionel Messi in the delegation and to a massive welcome. The scene was pure national team: rain, cold and a lot of love for a side that did not win the World Cup, but still came home wrapped in a wave of popular support rarely seen.
A return with the fans out in the street
The scene in the Argentine capital was the opposite of sporting disappointment. On a cold, drizzly night, thousands of fans came out to greet the squad and support the Scaloneta on its return after the final lost to España in the 2026 World Cup.
The big takeaway is this: beyond the result, the national team once again generated a massive impact in the country. The conditions were not ideal for heading out onto the streets, but people still showed up and turned the arrival into a display of collective affection.
- Buenos Aires welcomed the squad with a massive mobilization.
- The weather was hostile: cold and drizzle.
- The turnout came despite the fact that Argentina did not win the World Cup.
Messi and a national team that remains at the center
Amid that return, attention also focused on what lies ahead for the biggest names in the team. According to the context made public in recent hours, Lionel Messi's future with the national team is still not confirmed in either direction and in Argentina they are waiting for him until 2028.
At the same time, Lautaro Martínez spoke again to thank Argentine fans for their support after the World Cup. The striker lamented not having been able to play, a sign that the squad is also processing the final on an emotional level.
The return to Buenos Aires left an image that says a lot about the national team’s current moment: sporting pain, yes, but also a huge bond with the people. Meanwhile, the trip home has already delivered one certainty: the Argentine national team still draws massive crowds, even when the result does not go its way.
