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Lionel Messi’s low-key return to Argentina after the 2026 World Cup final
Jul 21 2026 18:49 · By NICOLE SOMMA · 10 Reads
The Albiceleste captain landed in his hometown of Rosario on Tuesday.
Following the national team’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, Lionel Messi is now back in Argentina.
The Albiceleste captain opted for a completely low-key return to his hometown, Rosario, avoiding public appearances—unlike the rest of the Argentine squad, which arrived in Buenos Aires on Monday and was greeted by a group of fans at Ezeiza Airport and along the route to the AFA headquarters.
Messi Returned to Rosario After the 2026 World Cup Final
Lionel remained in the United States and took a private flight accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, landing at Rosario’s Islas Malvinas International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday morning, around 5:30 a.m. (ET), according to DSports.
Without making any statements but showing gestures of gratitude toward the fans who had gathered to wait for him and the airport staff, he quickly left the airport in a SUV with tinted windows after disembarking from the plane.
According to the media outlet, Leo headed to his home in Funes, where he will spend a few days resting with his family before resuming his athletic commitments.
After failing to defend the title he won in Qatar 2022, Messi capped off another outstanding World Cup performance, reaching his third World Cup final in 12 years.
Even at 39, the Argentine captain was once again the Albiceleste’s standout player, delivering an outstanding tournament with eight goals and four assists—statistics that cemented his status as one of the most influential players of the 2026 World Cup despite the loss to Spain in the final, and as the second-highest scorer in the tournament’s history, behind Kylian Mbappé.
The star’s return came just hours after the Argentine national team landed at Ezeiza and was greeted by thousands of Albiceleste fans who, with signs, flags, and chants, thanked the squad for their performance in the tournament.
Meanwhile, uncertainty about the future of several key players on the team—including Messi himself, who has not yet confirmed whether he will continue to wear the blue-and-white jersey—continues to hang over the squad. For now, all we can do is wait.