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Lionel Messi has made his first public appearance since Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner choosing to spend time close to home in Rosario before returning to club football with Inter Miami.The 39-year-old captained Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final but was unable to prevent La Albiceleste from losing 1-0 after extra time at New York New Jersey Stadium, where Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to hand Spain their second world title.Messi once again proved central to Argentina’s run, finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists, although he was visibly emotional after the final whistle, leaving the pitch in tears following what is widely expected to have been his final World Cup appearance.
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Since then, the Argentina captain has largely stayed out of the public eye. He posted only a brief message on social media after the defeat and did not travel back to Argentina with the rest of Lionel Scaloni’s squad, instead returning privately to his hometown of Rosario with his family.
First appearance since the World Cup final
Messi was filmed attending a local football match involving Leones FC, marking his first public appearance since the World Cup final.Video shared by Argentine outlet Cadena 3 Rosario showed the Inter Miami forward watching the match from a stadium balcony dressed casually in a black hooded sweatshirt and cap. As supporters spotted him and began chanting his name, Messi smiled, waved and acknowledged the crowd before continuing to watch the game.The broadcaster later wrote on social media that Messi had been in Arroyo Seco to watch Leones FC in action, sharing footage of the Argentine legend greeting supporters during the visit.Earlier on the same day, other videos circulating on social media showed Messi walking through the streets of Rosario alongside his children. Wearing a hooded jacket and cap, the World Cup-winning captain appeared quiet and reserved, with many supporters noting the contrast between his subdued expression and his usually relaxed demeanour.
Supporting the family’s football project
The visit carried extra significance because Leones FC is closely connected to Messi and his family.Founded in 2015 by the Messi family, the club is chaired by his brother, Matías Messi, and currently competes in Argentina’s Primera C, the fourth tier of the country’s football pyramid. The team plays its home matches at the Antonio Di Giacomo Stadium in Arroyo Seco, just outside Rosario.Messi’s appearance was widely viewed by Argentine media as a show of support for the family-run project, which has steadily grown since its creation more than a decade ago.Although the visit attracted considerable attention, it also reflected the forward’s preference for spending time with his family in Rosario following one of the most emotionally difficult defeats of his career.
Time to recover before Inter Miami return
Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami shortly as the MLS season resumes, although the club is understood to be giving its captain time to recover both physically and mentally after Argentina’s demanding World Cup campaign.The veteran forward carried Argentina throughout much of the tournament, once again demonstrating his enduring quality despite turning 39 during the competition. His performances helped guide the defending champions back to another World Cup final before Spain ultimately ended their title defence through Torres’ extra-time winner.For now, however, football has taken a back seat.Rather than immediately returning to club duties or media appearances, Messi has chosen the familiarity of Rosario, spending time with his family and supporting a local club that bears his family’s imprint before preparing for the next chapter of his career with Inter Miami.
