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Lionel Messi chose to return home privately after Argentina's heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, skipping the team's victory parade in Buenos Aires.

The Argentine captain was visibly emotional after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, sealing Spain’s World Cup triumph. Tensions also flared after the final whistle, with Leandro Paredes involved in a confrontation with Spain defenders Eric Garcia and Gavi.

While many members of Argentina’s squad returned home for a public welcome, Messi took a different path. According to reports, he boarded a private flight to Rosario instead of joining the open-top bus celebration alongside his teammates.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni and 15 players participated in the parade through Buenos Aires before arriving at the Argentine Football Association’s training center. Meanwhile, several squad members, including Rodrigo De Paul, Cristian Romero, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, Nicolás Paz, Nahuel Molina, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso, and Giuliano Simeone, remained in the United States to begin their offseason break.

Messi is expected to spend time resting in Rosario before returning to the United States, where he will rejoin Inter Miami for the remainder of the MLS season. During his break, he is also expected to visit his parents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini.

Jorge Messi was unable to attend the World Cup due to ongoing health concerns. Earlier in the tournament, the family confirmed that he was under medical supervision and recovering well, while asking the public and media to respect their privacy.

Following the final, Messi shared an emotional message with his more than 500 million Instagram followers. "The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal."

Despite the disappointment, he reflected positively on Argentina’s tournament, thanking supporters for their unwavering encouragement and highlighting the team's achievement of reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.

Messi also praised Spain for their victory, writing that Argentina once again united the country through its performances and expressing gratitude to fans for standing behind the team throughout the tournament.

Although the defeat marked a painful end to Argentina’s World Cup campaign, Messi’s message emphasized pride in the squad’s resilience and appreciation for the support they received from fans around the world.