Argentina’s FIFA World Cup runners-up received an emotional welcome on their return home on Monday, with a red carpet reception, a military band and thousands of supporters turning out to honour Lionel Scaloni’s side despite their heartbreaking defeat in the final.
Argentina’s hopes of retaining the World Cup ended on Sunday after Ferran Torres scored an extra-time winner to seal a 1-0 victory for Spain at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Grand homecoming in Ezeiza
The squad landed at Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Ezeiza, where members of the Grenadier Regiment welcomed the players on a red carpet while performing the iconic anthem Muchachos. The team’s aircraft was directed to the private FBO terminal to facilitate the delegation’s arrival.
Thousands of supporters had gathered outside the Argentine Football Association (AFA) headquarters near the airport, waving flags, beating drums and chanting in appreciation of a team that reached a second consecutive World Cup final.
Messi absent from travelling squad
Many fans arrived wearing Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey, hoping to catch a glimpse of the captain. However, the 39-year-old was not part of the travelling delegation after the AFA announced that several players would return separately.
Messi, who described the defeat as causing “immense pain” in a social media post, is widely expected to have played his final FIFA World Cup match, although he has not announced his retirement from international football.
Fans salute the runners-up
Among the players who returned to Argentina were Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Tagliafico, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada and Juan Musso, among others.
The players and coaching staff then boarded an open-top bus and travelled under heavy security to the Lionel Andres Messi Training Centre, acknowledging supporters who had lined the route for hours.
Families, children and fans waving Argentina flags cheered the squad throughout the journey before the delegation was welcomed by AFA officials at the national team’s training complex, bringing the homecoming to a close.