Argentina Returns Home Without Messi After World Cup Final

Thousands of Argentine fans gathered at the airport this morning to welcome the national football team back from the World Cup, despite the absence of captain Lionel Messi and several other key players. The squad, which had advanced to the semi‑finals before a narrow defeat, is expected to arrive in the early afternoon, where supporters will line the arrival gates and wave banners in a show of solidarity for the players who completed the tournament.

Messi’s absence has been attributed to his decision to retire from international football after the World Cup, a move confirmed by the Argentine Football Association earlier this week. In addition to Messi, the squad will be missing a handful of teammates who were either injured or rested during the tournament. The Argentine Football Association has announced that the team will resume training in the coming days, with a focus on preparing for the upcoming Copa América fixtures.

As the team disembarks, the crowd’s cheers echo the nation’s pride in their World Cup journey, even as it marks the end of an era for the Argentine side. The return of the squad is seen as a moment of celebration for the fans, who look forward to the next chapter in the country’s football legacy.