The Argentina national team returned home with silver medals from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but not all players made it to Buenos Aires. Fans and journalists noticed that Lionel Messi was missing from the roof of the bus carrying the footballers through the capital streets.
Why Messi did not fly back with the team
According to Goal.com, the 39-year-old team leader decided not to fly home with his teammates. Instead of Buenos Aires, he headed to Miami — the city where he has been living in recent years and plays for Inter Miami.
Only head coach Lionel Scaloni and 16 players appeared at the fan parade. Messi's absence sparked a strong reaction among fans, however, it is reported that the forward will still travel to Argentina — later. His destination will be his hometown, Rosario.
Messi's contribution to the tournament
Despite his age, Messi was one of the standout players for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. He scored 8 goals in the tournament:
- 3 goals against Algeria;
- 2 goals against Austria;
- one goal each against Jordan, Cape Verde, and Egypt.
In the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final, Messi did not score, but his two assists were crucial in helping Argentina reach the final, securing a comeback victory over England with a 2-1 scoreline.
Historical contribution to the national team
In total, Messi has played 210 matches for the Argentina national team and scored 125 goals. His career with the national squad remains one of the most brilliant in the history of world football.
Earlier reports indicated that Kylian Mbappé set a historic record at the 2026 World Cup — an event that also drew significant global attention.
