Unable to defend the title! The Argentine team still received a red carpet and band welcome, but no one smiled, and the captain and nine others did not return home.

On July 21 Beijing time, the Argentine men's football team, which failed to defend their World Cup title, flew back to Argentina. According to a report by *Olé*, although they lost to Spain in the final and missed the chance to win the World Cup for the fourth time, the returning Argentine squad was still given a high-standard welcome by their government.

At the scene, a red carpet was laid out in front of the Argentine charter plane, and a band played the team's cheer song *Muchachos* to greet them. Due to the loss in the final, Argentine officials canceled large-scale public celebrations.

Despite the poor local weather conditions, hundreds of Argentine fans braved the rain to welcome the team back home.

Having just experienced the disappointment of the final defeat, Dibu Martínez, Otamendi, Paredes, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico, Mac Allister, and others had no smiles on their faces. They looked solemn, still carrying heavy hearts. Only coach Scaloni managed a faint smile and waved to the crowd.

Notably, nine Argentine internationals, including Messi, De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Lautaro Martínez, and Julián Álvarez, did not return with the team. They either went back to their clubs to report or headed elsewhere to start their vacations.

Argentine captain Messi has already returned to Miami to reunite with his family and plans to fly directly to Rosario in the coming days to visit his parents. Due to his father Jorge's health issues, Messi's parents did not attend this World Cup in person.

The Argentine Football Association is also waiting to see whether Messi will make a decision, but as of now, he has not revealed his thoughts to anyone. AFA President Tapia has stated that as long as Messi is willing, he will continue to stay with the national team. Because of his ability, because he remains the best player, and because the Argentine team in this new phase still needs him.

Whether Scaloni continues as coach or not, Messi, as captain, will remain an irreplaceable figure both on and off the field for the Argentine national team.