‘THE LAST OF MESSI’: ARGENTINES MOURN WORLD CUP FINAL DEFEAT, END OF AN ERA
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
Nervous excitement and deafening cheers gave way to anguished groans, nail-biting tension, and tears as Argentina’s hopes of retaining the FIFA World Cup under Lionel Messi ended with a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain.
At Cafe Relax in the historic centre of Buenos Aires, emotional supporters struggled to hold back tears after the final whistle, saying what hurt most was the likelihood that the tournament marked 39-year-old Messi’s final World Cup appearance.
“I feel empty. Empty because of Messi, because I won’t see him in a World Cup again. This is the last one,” said 22-year-old architecture student Camilo Cichero as he comforted a crying friend.
“It’s not how we expected it to go. At least it gives me peace of mind knowing he’s already won everything there was to win.”
His friend, Juan Saenz, a 22-year-old law student, echoed the sentiment.
“This was the last of Messi …it was the very end, and it finished this way,” he said.
“I was born while Messi was playing, and this was the end of that era.”
Fans still celebrate Argentina
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, celebrations continued across Buenos Aires as fireworks lit the sky, car horns blared, and thousands of supporters gathered at the iconic Obelisk, the city’s traditional venue for football celebrations.
Many fans said they would still welcome the national team home on Monday in appreciation of their efforts.
President Javier Milei also praised the players on X, writing, “Thank you so much, players!!! You fought until the very end. Argentina will always stand tall.”
Belief until the final whistle
Having reached the final through a series of hard-fought victories, many Argentines believed the defending champions would produce another trademark comeback.
Wrapped in Argentina’s blue-and-white flag and wearing the national team’s jersey, supporters braved the cold weather to fill bars and public squares ahead of the match.
At Cafe Relax, excitement gradually turned into anxiety as the match wore on.
During the second half, chants mixed with angry reactions to the action on the pitch, while some supporters sat in silence, chewing their nails or burying their faces in their flags.
When Enzo Fernandez was sent off after receiving two yellow cards, one supporter cried out, “Oh no, it can’t be, please, please!”
Before extra time, 87-year-old Teresa Dolores del Rio Varela admitted the tension had become overwhelming.
“It drags on and on, and you start to get nervous. I’m happy, but I just want it to end because it’s getting long,” she said.
Joaquin Romero, a 22-year-old sales representative, remained optimistic.
“Incredibly complicated. I don’t know how it’ll happen, but it’s going to happen for us. We’re Argentine. We’re champions, and we’re going to win,” he said.
However, Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner silenced the packed bar and dashed Argentina’s hopes of defending the World Cup.
After the match, Cichero admitted he was disappointed with both the result and Argentina’s performance.
“I didn’t like how Argentina played. I didn’t like the game plan, the substitutions, or the players. I didn’t like the referee,” he said.
Abel Torres, a 62-year-old retiree wearing a blue-and-white jester hat and blowing a vuvuzela throughout the match, became emotional as he reflected on the team’s effort.
“Argentina gave it their all. Today was a true example of what Argentina is all about: that despite the hard times and the obstacles we face, we always rise again,” he said.
In Messi’s hometown of Rosario, hundreds of supporters gathered to celebrate the former world champions with fireworks and chants despite the defeat.
“We’ve already won a cup. We can’t just break down in tears—we have to celebrate. Messi has already put us at the very top of the world,” Sergio Irrazabal told AFP.
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