‘Messi took us to the top of the world’: Fans pack streets of Buenos Aires to applaud Argentina’s World Cup campaign despite final loss – Watch

Fans gather during the World Cup final match between Argentina and Spain in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo) Is there a more dedicated fan base in international football than Argentina’s? The scenes after Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain again made that question difficult to answer.Instead of leaving in silence after losing 1-0 in extra time, Argentina supporters stayed back to cheer on their team. They sang their football anthems, chanted “Messiii, Messiii” around the stadium and applauded the players long after the final whistle.The same emotions were seen thousands of kilometers away in Buenos Aires, where supporters gathered around the city’s obelisk to thank the team despite the defeat. Their message was simple: “Gracias iguales.”READ ALSO: Lionel Messi leaves the World Cup in tears and as the greatest footballerThe fans held out hope for another comeback until the final whistle. But once Spain sealed victory, disappointment gradually gave way to appreciation for a campaign that once again took Argentina to the World Cup finals.At the Obelisk, a traditional meeting place for soccer celebrations in the Argentine capital, supporters who had gathered hours before kick-off first stood in silence before songs in honor of the team rang out.“We made it to the final, and that’s no small achievement,” 20-year-old student Luciano Ortega said with a smile, as quoted by the Buenos Aires Times.As the evening progressed (local time), more fans poured into the square. Drums, fireworks, firecrackers and car horns filled the air as supporters continued to chant despite the result.The team was also praised by Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, who wrote on X: “Thank you very much, players! You fought until the very end. Argentina always at the top.”In Rosario, Lionel Messi’s hometown about 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, hundreds gathered at the Monumento Nacional a la Bandera to greet the team after the final.The monument was lit up in Argentina’s national colors as supporters waved flags, wore national team jerseys and held photos of Messi, while fireworks lit up the night sky.“We’ve already won the World Cup. We shouldn’t just cry, we should celebrate. Messi has already taken us to the top of the world,” Sergio Irrazábal, who attended with his family wearing a light blue and white wig, told AFP.South American football governing body CONMEBOL also acknowledged the scenes, posting a video of the celebrations at X with the caption: “Despite the result, Argentina appreciated their team’s campaign.”Spain’s victory secured their first World Cup title since 2010 and extended Luis de la Fuente’s side’s unbeaten international campaign to a European record 38 matches.For Argentina, the defeat ended an impressive title defense that began after lifting the trophy in Qatar four years ago. It also featured what is widely expected to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance.Even after the defeat, the mood in Buenos Aires reflected more pride than disappointment. The fans decided to celebrate a team that reached another World Cup final and stayed in the competition until Ferran Torres scored the extra-time winner to tie the game.