Arizona Tribune - Messi lands in Argentine hometown after World Cup defeat

NYSE - LSE

RELX	0.03%	33.52	$
AZN	1.21%	166.58	$
BTI	-0.7%	55.63	$
GSK	-0.83%	49.24	$
RIO	0.1%	94.56	$
BCE	-1.57%	20.97	$
BP	-0.59%	44.15	$
NGG	0.34%	75.49	$
RBGPF	-0.9%	65.4	$
CMSC	-0.54%	20.4	$
BCC	1.35%	77.14	$
RYCEF	-1.86%	19.31	$
VOD	0.78%	16.62	$
CMSD	-0.34%	20.3	$
JRI	-1.36%	11.02	$

Messi lands in Argentine hometown after World Cup defeat / Photo: Jewel Samad - AFP/File

Messi lands in Argentine hometown after World Cup defeat

SPORTS 21.07.2026

Argentina's defeated football hero Lionel Messi returned to his hometown on Tuesday after a painful World Cup final loss.

Text size:

The national squad captain landed at Rosario airport on a private jet at around 6:30 am (0930 GMT) along with his wife and three children, a local government source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A video published by sports outlet ESPN showed a gray SUV carrying Messi entering a gated community in the city of Funes.

The house he owns in this suburban area is where he usually stays during visits to his native Rosario in central Argentina.

Most national squad players and their coach Lionel Scaloni arrived in Buenos Aires on Monday night, where thousands of fans enveloped them in cheers, chants, flags and tears.

Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain 1-0, with soccer idol Messi breaking down in tears after Sunday's defeat.

The 39-year-old star scored eight goals during this year's tournament.

H.Gonzales--AT

Arizona Tribune - Messi lands in Argentine hometown after World Cup defeat

Messi lands in Argentine hometown after World Cup defeat

Featured

'Invincible' 223cm teen basketball player stars as China win bronze

Japan schoolboy, 11, wins gold while empty seats blight Asian Games

Japan organisers 'not satisfied' as empty seats blight Asian Games

'I felt embarrassed': Japan eSports whizz-kid, 11, wins Games gold