Messi stays, De Paul fires back after final defeat

Messi is not done with Argentina

Your captain may not have played his last match in the shirt. Marca reports that Messi has not closed the door on the national team after the World Cup final defeat to Spain (1). RMC Sport adds that Messi is expected to continue, at least for a little while longer (2). No official word from the man himself yet, but the signals are clear.

De Paul hits back at the critics

Rodrigo De Paul did not hold back. "Our manners piss them off," he said after the final, dismissing the wave of criticism aimed at Argentina (4). Read the room, your team is not apologising for how they played or how they lost.

Julián Álvarez breaks his silence

Julián Álvarez posted his first message since the final. "We are going to get up, learn, and keep going. Whatever happens, this is who we are. We don't understand life any other way: always forward, fighting for our flag" (7). A statement the squad needed.

Brazilian press tears into Messi

The reaction in Brazil has been brutal. Ge.globo cited English journalist Jeremy Cross: "There is a way to lose, and Messi is not too old to learn it. What he showed the world at the final whistle was not expected of him" (3). The report calls his behavior petulant and shameful, pointing to his exchange with Enzo Fernández, Marc Cucurella, and referee Slavko Vinčić after the whistle (3).

Thousands welcomed the squad home, but Messi stayed away

A red-carpet reception waited at the Buenos Aires airport. Otamendi, Dibu Martínez, Lisandro Martínez, Mac Allister, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Cuti Romero, and most of the squad flew back Monday (9). Thousands lined the streets (9) (10). Messi and De Paul did not travel, both will miss Inter Miami's next two MLS games (5). The crowd still showed up.

No official celebrations, by the players' choice

President Milei confirmed there will be no government-organized festivities for the national team (6). It was the players who said no (8). Runners-up, and they know it.

Fan reactions

The mood online has been ugly. Much of the global audience has turned on Argentina, the post-final conduct, the referee complaints, the fan behavior. A video liked by Cristiano Ronaldo accusing FIFA of helping Argentina reach the final has only poured fuel on it (r/soccer). In the Argentina subreddit, the internal fallout has been described as a "shitshow" by outsiders looking in (r/worldcup). FIFA has opened an investigation into the post-final incidents (r/soccer).