Lionel Messi returned to Rosario, Argentina, for a short spell of downtime after his World Cup final defeat to Spain, bringing the focus back to home as preparations begin for the next club chapter.
- Messi’s private jet touched down near his hometown from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6:27 a.m. on Tuesday.
- Despite a crowd of supporters gathering with banners and flags, the Argentina captain did not step out for a public appearance.
- Only a quick look was available to fans as an SUV met him on the runway and transported him, along with his family, to the private area of Funes, about 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.
- He reportedly travelled with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, who had been with him throughout the tournament in North America.
- In Rosario, Messi was set to be reunited with his father, Jorge, 68, who has been undergoing medical treatment for an illness that the family had previously said it would not detail.
- Supporters had started arriving at the airport as early as 3:30 a.m., including two young girls wearing Albiceleste shirts and holding welcome messages; one sign read: “Messi: You’re a legend. Thank you for bringing joy to our hearts. A whole country loves you!”
- Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami in late July or at the start of August for the ongoing MLS season.
World Cup return: squad lands back in Buenos Aires
While Messi headed to Rosario, the rest of Argentina’s World Cup contingent also made its way home. Fifteen players from the 26-man squad—coached by Lionel Scaloni—arrived at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport on Monday via a charter flight.
The team’s return follows the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Argentina suffered a 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain on Sunday. The deciding moment came through a Ferran Torres goal.
The match was Messi’s third World Cup final appearance, after 2014 and 2022. He finished the tournament as the runner-up in the Golden Boot race, scoring eight goals—two fewer than France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé also leads the all-time World Cup scoring list with 22 goals, one more than Messi.
