The Argentina team returned home to celebrate winning the 2024 Copa America, but Lionel Messi chose to stay in the US to recover from his injury.
On July 16, the Argentine team returned to Buenos Aires to celebrate the Copa America 2024 championship they had just won in the US. Many stars appeared at the airport with the championship trophy, including Lautaro Martinez, Paredes, De Paul, Di Maria and coach Lionel Scaloni.
However, many other stars such as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, center back Otamendi, striker Julian Alvarez and especially captain Lionel Messi did not return home to celebrate with fans.
According to TyC Sport (Argentina), Messi chose to stay in the US to treat the ankle injury he suffered in the Copa America 2024 final against Colombia on July 15. The 37-year-old star hopes to recover soon to prepare to return to play for Inter Miami in the upcoming MLS and Leagues Cup tournaments.
Although he did not return home, Messi still sent a touching message to Argentina fans and his two longtime teammates Di Maria and Otamendi: “Copa America is over, I want to thank everyone for the messages and congratulations.
I’m fine, thank God, and I hope I can get back on the pitch soon to enjoy what I love. I’m happy, because we achieved our goal of winning the Copa America. Especially with players who have been there for a long time like Di Maria and Otamendi.
We lived with special enthusiasm, with other teammates with experience in many tournaments and a new generation of young players who always gave their all in every move.
Argentina is a family, a great team. Thank you everyone for your support, this team has a lot to do now and in the future. Let’s go, Argentina.”
On July 13, Messi and the president of the Argentine Football Federation , Claudio Tapia, gave Di Maria a special shirt with the words “thank you Fideo”. Messi and his teammates fulfilled their promise when they beat Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America final on July 15 as a farewell gift for Di Maria.
After the 2024 Copa America in the US, Di Maria and Otamendi decided to leave the Argentina national team, after both had won the 2021 Copa America, 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America titles. Messi has not yet made a decision about his future and coach Scaloni wants Messi to stay with the Argentina national team towards the 2026 World Cup.
A notable detail is that during the Copa America 2024 trophy ceremony on July 15, Messi held the 6-week-old son of his teammate Gonzalo Montiel in his arms. Fans associated it with the photos of Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo next to the Argentine football legend.
