Messi Back in Public: Supporting His Brother and the Family Club
The 39-year-old Argentine's first public appearance since the 2026 World Cup final was in Arroyo Seco, where he watched Leones FC. His international future remains uncertain.
The 39-year-old Argentine's first public appearance since the 2026 World Cup final was in Arroyo Seco, where he watched Leones FC. His international future remains uncertain.
Lionel Messi made his first public appearance since Argentina's loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. On Saturday evening, July 25, the 39-year-old footballer was in Arroyo Seco, a town near his native Rosario, where he watched a match of the family club Leones FC at the Antonio Di Giacomo stadium.
Messi's arrival in the stands was quickly noticed. Fans immediately began chanting his name, and he waved back with a smile. He was dressed in a black hoodie and, as those present described, looked relaxed. Footage of his visit was shared by Argentine radio station Cadena 3 Rosario on platform X, noting that Messi came to support Leones and took the opportunity to send a special greeting to their listeners.
After the defeat in the final, Messi returned to Rosario with his family on July 21. Since then, he had not appeared in public, instead spending time resting and recovering from the grueling tournament in which Argentina failed to defend its world champion title. The visit to Arroyo Seco was his first outing in front of cameras and fans since the end of the World Cup in North America.
Leones FC is a club founded by the Messi family, led by Lionel's brother Matías Messi. The club competes in Primera C, the fourth tier of Argentine football, and plays its home matches in Arroyo Seco. Argentine media view Messi's attendance as strong support for the project the family is developing outside top-tier professional football. In recent years, Leones FC has sought to strengthen its position in the Argentine league system and build itself as a club with a clear vision.
Messi is expected to return to Inter Miami soon, which is in the midst of its season. However, the biggest unknown remains his international future. The Argentine has not yet said whether he will continue playing for the Albiceleste, and speculation in local media is growing that the World Cup marked the end of his international career. If that proves true, the final against Spain would be his last match in an Argentina shirt.
Cadena 3 Rosario posted on platform X that Messi arrived in Arroyo Seco to support Leones and took the opportunity to send a special greeting to their listeners.
Regardless of what lies ahead in his career, the visit to the family club shows that Messi, despite his global fame, still holds firmly to his roots in the Rosario area. Leones FC, though playing far from the world's spotlight, has the backing of one of the greatest footballers of all time.
