Argentina Receives Vice World Champions Without Messi: Red Carpet Reception Instead of a Holiday

The Argentine government had meanwhile prepared a "ceremonial reception" for coach Lionel Scaloni's team at the airport, complete with a red carpet and honor guard. However, according to its own account, the government deliberately did not send high-ranking representatives. President Javier Milei had previously said "that politics must not appropriate the football celebration." This was apparently intended to prevent the state spectacle from overshadowing the disappointment over the lost final.

Ceremonial Reception Without Prominent Figures

The team then continued by team bus to the nearby training ground of the football association AFA in Ezeiza. However, there was no celebratory mood among the players and coaching staff, as local media reported. The atmosphere remained subdued – after the 0:1 against Spain in New Jersey the previous Sunday, the team had every reason for disillusionment.

In addition to Messi, other prominent players were missing at the airport. The football association had announced that some players in the squad would depart directly from the United States to various destinations in order to rejoin their clubs or take a break, "including key players such as Enzo Fernández, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and Rodrigo De Paul." This meant the delegation at the airport consisted of only part of the World Cup squad.

Messi Missing: Direct Flight to Miami

Messi himself was already in Miami before the departure. He "flew Messi after the World Cup final, which the Argentines had lost on Sunday in New Jersey against Spain (0:1), initially to Miami. Messi then plans to travel to his hometown Rosario for a few days," Argentine media reported. The captain had indicated before the match that the tournament in the USA might well have been his last major international appearance.

Unlike after the 2022 title win, there was no political spectacle this time. President Milei had made the holding of a national holiday dependent on a corresponding request from the players and coaching staff. "The holiday that President Milei had announced shortly after the lost final was no longer on the agenda," it was said in this regard. Without such a request from the team, the government did not want the defeat to be overshadowed by a day off for the population.

No Holiday After the Final Defeat

The backstory of the reception illustrates the changed mood in the country. Four years ago, after the triumph against France in Lusail, hundreds of thousands of people had celebrated the team around the clock in Buenos Aires. At that time, "Muchachos, Ahora Nos Volvimos a Ilusionar" had become a people's song and the Albiceleste had been carried along on a wave of euphoria. This time, the journey ended on a rainy morning without Messi and without the collective celebratory mood.

Among the fans waiting at the roadside, disappointment and appreciation mingled. Many still wore the white jerseys of the national team and waved flags as the buses with the players headed toward Ezeiza. Some supporters shouted chants, others silently watched the convoy go by. The mixture of respect for the performance and sorrow over the missed title defense characterized the scene.

Mood at the Roadside: Fans Between Disappointment and Respect

Sportingly, the final defeat raises questions for the future. Messi, now in the advanced stage of his career, had left open before the tournament whether he would continue his international career. With the lost final against Spain, the chapter of the generation around Messi appears to be over for the time being on the biggest stage. The Argentine association and coach Lionel Scaloni face the task of building a next generation.

Politically, the reception remains a balancing act. Milei had, by his own account, deliberately held back so as not to co-opt the sporting character of the moment. At the same time, his cabinet had approved the red carpet and the honor guard – a signal that the team represents the country despite the defeat. "That politics must not appropriate the football celebration," Milei had emphasized in advance.

Outlook: Change After Lost Final

The Argentine football association announced that discussions with players and clubs about the future direction of the national team would take place in the coming days. Coach Scaloni, whose contract is up for discussion after the tournament, initially did not want to comment publicly. In Buenos Aires, attention is now turning to Rosario, where Messi is expected in the coming days – and to the question of what his next chapter will be.

The team's journey from Ezeiza into the winter break also marks the beginning of a phase of transition. Several key players from the squad will return to their European clubs in the coming weeks. Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández face the start of training in England, Rodrigo De Paul travels to Atlético Madrid. The clubs are expecting their national players after a summer that ended with the final in New Jersey.

Political Distance: Milei Holds Back

In Argentine media, the reception was described as "dignified, but cool." Neither triumph nor collective grief marked the moment, but rather a kind of silent transition. "However, there was no celebratory mood among them, as local media reported," reporters summarized the atmosphere within the team. The coming weeks will show whether the disappointment prevails – or whether the lost title serves as motivation for a new chapter.