Thankful fans gathered on Monday (July 20) to welcome home Argentina's team, although soccer star Lionel Messi was absent. The Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) said part of the team and coaching staff would return to Argentina on Monday, but media reported that Messi and Rodrigo de Paul would instead travel to Florida, where they play for Inter Miami. Argentine media reported that the team was not in the mood for celebrations, although Argentine President Javier Milei had said on Sunday that a holiday would be declared whenever the players decided to celebrate their return.Fans lined the road connecting the International Airport to AFA headquarters to express their gratitude to the team.Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday's final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to deny the 2022 champions back-to-back World Cup titles. Show more Show less
'They're champions': Argentina, without Messi, greeted by fans in Buenos after World Cup return
Thankful fans gathered on Monday (July 20) to welcome home Argentina's team, although soccer star Lionel Messi was absent. The Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) said part of the team and coaching staff would return to Argentina on Monday, but media reported that Messi and Rodrigo de Paul would instead travel to Florida, where they play for Inter Miami. Argentine media reported that the team was not in the mood for celebrations, although Argentine President Javier Milei had said on Sunday that a holiday would be declared whenever the players decided to celebrate their return.Fans lined the road connecting the International Airport to AFA headquarters to express their gratitude to the team.Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday's final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to deny the 2022 champions back-to-back World Cup titles.
