Lionel Messi made his first public appearance since Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opting to spend time closer 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 the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to give Spain their second World Cup title.Messi 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 after what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance.
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Since then, the captain of Argentina has been largely out of the public eye. He only posted a brief message on social media after the defeat and did not travel 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 Argentinian outlet Cadena 3 Rosario showed the Inter Miami forward watching the match from a stadium balcony dressed casually in a black hooded sweatshirt. As the supporters saw him and started 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 the same day, other videos circulating on social media showed Messi walking the streets of Rosario alongside his children. Wearing a hooded jacket and hood, the World Cup-winning captain looked quiet and reserved, with many supporters noting the contrast between his subdued expression and his usually relaxed demeanor.
I support the family football project
The visit had extra meaning because Leones FC is closely connected with 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 level of the country’s football pyramid. The team plays its home games at the Antonio Di Giacomo stadium in Arroyo Seco, just outside of Rosario.Messi’s appearance was widely seen by the Argentine media as a show of support for the family project, which has grown steadily since its creation more than a decade ago.Although the visit attracted considerable attention, it also reflected the striker’s preference to spend time with his family in Rosario after one of the most emotionally difficult defeats of his career.
Time to recover before the return of Inter Miami
Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami as soon as the MLS season resumes, although it is understood the club are giving their captain time to recover physically and mentally after Argentina’s demanding World Cup campaign.The veteran forward carried Argentina through most of the tournament, once again showing his enduring quality despite turning 39 during the competition. His performances helped guide the defending champions to another World Cup final before Spain finally ended their title defense through Torres’ extra-time winner.For now, however, football has taken a back seat.Rather than immediately return to club functions or media appearances, Messi chose 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.