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Lionel Messi returned to Argentina on Tuesday for a few days of rest following the World Cup final defeat to Spain.
Messi’s private jet landed near his hometown of Rosario, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6:27 a.m. Although many fans were waiting with signs and flags, he did not make a public appearance.
Fans got only a brief glimpse of the SUV that met Messi on the tarmac to transport him and his family to the private neighborhood of Funes, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.
The Argentina captain reportedly traveled with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, all of whom accompanied him throughout the tournament in North America. Waiting for her in Rosario was her father, Jorge, 68, whose ongoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness had been revealed by the family during the World Cup.
Fans gathered at the airport as early as 3:30 a.m. in the hope of catching a glimpse of the star. Among them, two young girls wearing Albiceleste jerseys held up welcome signs, one of which read: “Messi: You are a legend. Thank you for bringing joy to our hearts. A whole country loves you!”
Messi is expected to join Inter Miami in late July or early August for the current MLS season.
Fifteen members of Argentina’s 26-man World Cup squad, led by head coach Lionel Scaloni, landed at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport on a chartered flight on Monday.
The team’s arrival follows a 1-0 overtime loss to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, decided by a Ferran Torres goal.
This match marked Messi’s third appearance in the World Cup final after 2014 and 2022. He finished the tournament as runner-up for the Golden Boot with eight goals, two behind France’s Kylian MbappĆ©.
MbappƩ leads the all-time World Cup goals chart with 22, one more than Messi.
Associated Press reporting.
