'The last of Messi': Argentines mourn loss and end of an era
Argentine football fans are mourning the end of an era following Lionel Messi's final World Cup appearance, which ended in a defeat against Spain. Despite the loss, the nation continues to celebrate the legacy of their team and their captain.
Why it matters
The event highlights the deep cultural and emotional significance of football in Argentina and the global impact of a sports icon's retirement.
Nervous excitement and rowdy cheers turned into anguished groans, nailbiting tension and tears, as Argentines' hope of yet another epic comeback led by Lionel Messi in the World Cup fizzled out against Spain.
At the Cafe Relax bar in the historic centre of Buenos Aires, fans with tears in their eyes after the final whistle blew on the 1-0 defeat said that what saddened them most was that it was almost certainly 39-year-old Messi's last shot at a World Cup.
"I feel empty. Empty because of Messi, because I won't see him in a World Cup again. This is the last one," said Camilo Cichero, a 22-year-old architecture student who was comforting his 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."
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