Argentinian soccer fans on Monday (July 20) lamented their defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, but thanked the efforts of star Lionel Messi and their team.

Spain secured their 1–0 victory with a goal in extra time, crushing Argentina's dream in the United States of repeating their 2022 Qatar triumph and claiming a fourth title.

"What was seen yesterday and what the national team did lately, these last years, it is something that was never seen before, something magnificent," said Argentine fan Jose Delgadillo.

Many Argentines started the World Cup with tempered expectations, not daring to believe that their country could achieve the rare feat of clinching two consecutive World Cups as only Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) have done.

But nerves and expectations swelled as the team led by Messi pushed through nail-biting knockout stage wins over Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.

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Argentinian soccer fans thank Messi, team despite defeat in World Cup final

VIDEO SHOWS: STREETS OF BUENOS AIRES / SOUNDBITES FROM ARGENTINIAN FOOTBALL FANS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JULY 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. NEWSSTAND NEXT TO RUBBISH ON STREET

2. NEWSPAPERS ON DISPLAY AT NEWSSTAND

3. VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR ARGENTINIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOSE DELGADILLO, 32, SAYING:

“After what happened yesterday, I think the players deserve time to rethink everything that happened. It's already a personal matter, what was seen yesterday and what the national team did lately, these last years, it is something that was never seen before, something magnificent. And I think that decision is up to the players, whether they want to come or not want to come to celebrate. And it has to be respected. They are great, Messi is the best, Scaloni and the whole coaching staff, everything they did was something magnificent."

5. TRAFFIC DRIVING ON STREET WITH OBELISK IN BACKGROUND

6. BILLBOARD READING (Spanish): “Thank you for everything / And for the football too”

7. BILLBOARD READING (Spanish): “Let’s go Argentina”

8. BILLBOARD READING (Spanish) “Let’s go Argentina” NEXT TO BILLBOARD DEPICTING LIONEL MESSI AND READING (English): “You got this”

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TOMAS FRIAS, 21, SAYING:

"Well, about the players who aren't coming back, I understand their opinions a bit, they come back from a fairly exhausting World Cup. I feel they gave everything, honestly I'm proud of them. Obviously, a celebration would have been good, I think the affection was evident here, yesterday the Obelisk was full, but well, these are also decisions and I don't think it's wrong either. I'm very proud and I think they gave a great World Cup. Obviously, we would have liked to win, but well, we were coming off many years of glory and I think at some point it's your turn (to lose)."

10. TRAFFIC DRIVING PAST OBELISK

11. BOARDS WITH GRAFFITI BLOCKING OFF OBELISK

12. PERSON REMOVING WOODEN BOARDS OUTSIDE STORE

13. GRAFFITI ON BOARD READING (Spanish): “Go Argentina”

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOAQUIN CORONEL, 22, SAYING:

"The truth is that it makes me very sad how this match turned out. Messi has already given us everything, he no longer needs to give anything more. He has already given all his energy, his passion, his magic to Argentines and that is something that must be recognized. Despite it not being the result we wanted, he was the person we needed."

15. VARIOUS OF RUBBISH ON STREET

16. BARRIERS ON STREET

17. VARIOUS OF CLEANING STAFF CLEANING STREETS OF CITY