Thousands of fans greeted Argentina's World Cup squad near Buenos Aires after a 1-0 final loss to Spain, even as captain Lionel Messi was absent from the visible arrival and shared his grief online.
Lionel Messi drew sharp criticism for sportsmanship lapses as Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final, finishing without a shot on target and sparking debate over how the Albiceleste handled defeat.
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino frames Sunday's final in East Rutherford as a defining test against Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina, while backing Lamine Yamal to represent a new generation on the biggest stage.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez deleted a social media post taunting England with Oasis' Wonderwall after Argentina's semifinal win, then reposted the image without the audio overlay amid backlash. With the World Cup final against Spain days away, former players including John Terry and Graeme Souness argue La Roja hold the edge despite Argentina's proven resilience.
Jude Bellingham played down his early clash with Lionel Messi after England's World Cup semi-final loss, while Messi rejected suggestions that Argentina have benefited from favorable officiating on their path to another final.
Argentina appear to have cleared Lionel Messi, Cristian Romero and Leandro Paredes for their World Cup semi-final against England after a draining quarter-final win over Switzerland, though the toll of a longer tournament schedule remains a factor to watch.
Former England midfielder Joe Cole insists the Three Lions have the pace and belief to reach the World Cup final against Argentina, while Lionel Messi prepares for his first-ever meeting with England on football's biggest stage.
Kylian Mbappe atoned for a first-half penalty miss with a decisive strike as France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals, advancing to the semi-finals while drawing level with Lionel Messi atop the scoring charts.
Lionel Messi's last ten outings for Inter Miami and Argentina show elite, repeatable match impact — a case study in how aging superstars sustain franchise and national-team ROI across different competitive environments.
With eight nations left in the 2026 World Cup, a closer look at the players leading each quarterfinal side reveals familiar icons, surprise statistical leaders, and the choices that have defined the tournament's decisive stretch.
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