Millions of Argentina fans have expressed their gratitude to Lionel Messi, despite losing the 2026 World Cup final.
“Vamos Argentina!” (“Let’s go, Argentina!”), “Gracias igual!” (“Thank you, anyway, even though you didn’t win”) and “Gracias Seleccion!” (“Thank you, National!”) could be heard in bars and streets across the country, bursting into shouts of pride shortly after the end.
“Actually, I feel grateful for this team that gave everything until the last moment,” said Marco Moya, a 37-year-old delivery driver, his eyes moist. He had watched the match with his family across the street, on a restaurant screen.
There was, of course, anger “because we didn’t play well today,” according to Pedro Montania, a 35-year-old civil servant. But it all fell apart with every screen appearance of Messi’s defeated face, receiving a standing ovation. “It connected with a generation. There was Diego, then him, and I hope there is another. I’m sad because it was a perfect ending for him,” he added.
In city boulevards, fireworks, car horns and drums resounded.
“We made it to the final, and that’s no small feat! Argentina showed once again that they are one of the best teams,” said smiling Luciano Ortega, a 20-year-old student with his face painted blue and white. And besides, “a lot of people were already happy to beat England,” their arch-rivals, in the semi-final.
Even more so than during a month of global frenzy, of countries driven into blockade, Buenos Aires has been decked out in blue and white in recent days, with player photos and flags everywhere: on shop windows, facades, balconies, cars, even delivery scooters.
World Cup 2026: The huge “thank you” to Messi
In a country with countless murals of Maradona – but increasingly of Messi – many cities and neighborhoods took the initiative to shout their support for “La Seleccion” (the national team) from afar.
In Rosario, Messi’s hometown located 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, hundreds of people gathered to congratulate the team that reached the final. “We’ve already won a cup, we’re not going to start cryingwe should celebrate. And Messi has already taken us up there to the top of the world,” Sergio Irathambal told AFP.
In fact, a giant 22m jersey with the number 10 and the words “Thank you Leo, you’re a legend” was suspended in the air by a crane.
“Thank you very much to the players…!!! They fought until the end. Argentina is still at the top,” commented the country’s president, Javier Millay at X after the match, announcing that a public holiday would be declared.
Millay, who had decided not to attend the final in person for the charm, indicated this week that if the Federation so wished, the Casa Rosada presidential palace would be available “empty”, meaning without him, for a possible salute from the “albiceleste” on the balcony overlooking May Square.
In 2022, the world champions received an extraordinary reception, unprecedented for the Argentines, with 4 to 5 million people lining the route of the double-decker bus.
After covering a few kilometers in four hours, the parade ended with a helicopter flying over the crowds in the city centre. Many, hundreds of thousands, maybe even more, are preparing to celebrate the national team again, and especially Messi.
“Of course I will go, I will be there, I will wait for them, to thank them for all these moments”, confirmed Marco Moya, reflecting on the incredible journey from 2021: two Copa América titles, a World Cup victory and a participation in a World Cup final: “I am 37 years old and, frankly, I don’t know if I will ever experience all this again”.
Source: Lifo
