Argentina captain Lionel Messi has reportedly chosen to skip the national team's victory parade in Buenos Aires following their 1-0 extra time loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The title match, held on Sunday, July 19, in New Jersey, saw Spain secure the win in the 16th minute of extra time via a goal from Ferran Torres, shortly after Argentina's Enzo Fernandez was dismissed at the end of regulation time.
According to reports, the 39-year-old Messi arrived in his hometown of Rosario on a private plane on Tuesday. He bypassed fans waiting for his arrival and traveled by road to an exclusive neighborhood in Fisherton, where his family owns a residence. He is expected to remain there for a short period before returning to Miami to resume his club duties with Inter Miami. Notably, Messi did not join his teammates on the flight to Buenos Aires, as he continues to process the disappointment of the loss. On Instagram, the forward expressed his grief, stating, "The pain is very great, and it will take a long time for this wound to heal."
During the final, Messi struggled to make an impact against a dominant Spanish side, failing to record a touch in the opponent's box or contribute to a goal. Despite the defeat, the tournament marked the most prolific campaign of his career. In eight matches, the Inter Miami star scored eight goals and provided four assists. Throughout the event, he set several records, including becoming the oldest hat-trick scorer and the most prolific assist provider in World Cup history with 12 assists. He also finished as the competition's most prolific scorer with 21 goals, though he was surpassed by Kylian Mbappe, who reached 22 goals on the final day of the tournament.
