Argentina, minus Messi, return home after World Cup final heartbreak
Thousands wait to greet the team, who return without captain Messi and a few other players after the World Cup.
Argentina’s World Cup runners-up returned home on Sunday to a warm reception from thousands of supporters, but the team arrived without captain Lionel Messi and several other players, according to a monitored public feed from Al Jazeera Latest.
The squad’s arrival followed a painful World Cup final defeat that left Argentina short of the trophy but still greeted with applause and national pride. Fans gathered in large numbers to welcome the team back, turning the return into a show of support after the disappointment of the final.
Messi, who has long been central to Argentina’s identity on the pitch, was not among the players on the homebound trip. The feed also notes that a few other members of the squad did not return with the main group. No further details were provided about the absent players or the reasons for their separate travel arrangements.
Even without the full lineup, the team’s return drew a strong public response. The size of the crowd underscored how closely supporters followed Argentina’s World Cup campaign and how quickly attention turned from the loss itself to recognition of the squad’s achievement in reaching the final.
The report, based on a monitored public feed, did not include additional comments from players, coaches, or officials. It also did not say where the team landed or describe any formal reception beyond the presence of the waiting fans.
Source: Al Jazeera Latest - https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/20/argentina-minus-messi-return-home-after-world-cup-final-heartbreak?traffic_source=rss
