Lionel Messi seen for first time since painful World Cup final loss

EditionININUSGCCEnglishEnglishहिन्दीमराठीಕನ್ನಡதமிழ்বাংলাമലയാളംతెలుగుગુજરાતીWeatherSign InTOIToday's ePaperLive EditionININUSGCCEnglishEnglishहिन्दीमराठीಕನ್ನಡதமிழ்বাংলাമലയാളംతెలుగుગુજરાતીWeatherSign In TOIToday's ePaperLive NewsSports NewsFootballWATCH: Messi seen for first time since painful World Cup final loss, emerges in Rosario to fans’ cheersTrendingThe Hundred LeagueViswanathan AnandMinakshi Harichandra Jadhav BasketballAsian Games Cricket ScheduleJadumani SinghWomens Durand Cup TournamentIndian Boxers LuggageSikandar RazaSakshi Chaudhary BoxingHanuma VihariThe Hundred LeagueViswanathan AnandMinakshi Harichandra Jadhav BasketballAsian Games Cricket ScheduleJadumani SinghWomens Durand Cup TournamentIndian Boxers LuggageSikandar RazaSakshi Chaudhary BoxingHanuma VihariThe Hundred LeagueViswanathan AnandMinakshi Harichandra Jadhav BasketballAsian Games Cricket ScheduleJadumani SinghWomens Durand Cup TournamentIndian Boxers LuggageSikandar RazaSakshi Chaudhary BoxingHanuma VihariWATCH: Messi seen for first time since painful World Cup final loss, emerges in Rosario to fans’ cheersTOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jul 26, 2026, 08:00 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge Messi makes first public appearance after World Cup heartbreak, watching a local match in Rosario before returning to Inter Miami/ Image:X 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.CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests'We won't go': CJP's Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan's exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedSince 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 finalMessi 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 projectThe 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 returnMessi 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 perfor