Lionel Messi attended the private funeral of his father, Jorge Messi, in Rosario on Sunday after Jorge died aged 68 following a long illness. Jorge Messi died at a clinic in Rosario on Saturday. The Inter Miami star travelled from the United States on a private plane with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children after receiving news of his father’s death.

The funeral was held at the El Prado private cemetery in the outskirts of Santa Fe. Messi was joined by his mother, Celia Cuccittini, his brothers Matias and Rodrigo, and his sister Maria Sol. Visitor access to the cemetery was restricted to respect the family’s privacy, while public entry was closed from the afternoon and the event was held under tight security.

Residents of Rosario left banners near the airport and cemetery expressing support and condolences. The Argentine Football Association, national team coaching staff and Rosario Mayor Pablo Javkin also conveyed sympathy. Argentina ordered a minute of silence before all professional and youth football matches, with players, coaching staff and referees instructed to wear black armbands in Jorge Messi’s memory.

Lionel Messi has returned to Rosario, Argentina, to bid farewell to his father, Jorge Messi, who died at age 68 after a prolonged illness. The Argentina captain traveled from the United States, departing Fort Lauderdale and arriving in Rosario at 8:40 p.m. local time on Saturday. He was accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children.

Messi and his family left the airport in a van under a police security escort. Jorge Messi will be buried in Pérez, a town near Rosario. Argentine outlet TyC Sports reported that the funeral will be held in a private family setting, with Messi expected to say his final goodbye alongside relatives and close acquaintances.

Many fans have gathered near the funeral location to show support during a difficult time for their favorite player. Jorge Messi played an important role in his son’s football career, supporting him from childhood and later serving as his agent. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Rosario Central and Newell’s Old Boys were among clubs and institutions that expressed condolences to the Messi family after news of his death spread.

Argentina defender Facundo Medina encountered a garage owner who alleged Argentina deliberately gave up the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, according to a report by Argentine outlet TyC Sports. Medina had recently visited the garage, where the owner did not recognize him as a national-team player and criticized Argentina’s players over the final defeat.

The owner offered Medina a cup of mate and began discussing the national team after noticing three Argentine stars engraved on Medina’s vessel. Medina did not reveal his identity. Instead, he encouraged the man to continue and listened to the complaints for about an hour. Medina later recalled that the owner said, “We gave this away. We threw the match.”

The situation changed when a woman leaving a nearby bakery recognized Medina and informed the garage owner’s companion. Medina said he later saw the woman crying and approached her to calm her. He told her, “Don’t cry now. We didn’t give anything away, we wanted to win.” The two then embraced.

Jorge Messi, the father of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, has died after a long illness at the age of 68. He died at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, and the family confirmed the news to Reuters. The report was published on August 8, 2026, at 20:24.

Jorge Messi’s health had recently been poor, requiring him to remain between a medical center in Rosario and his home for treatment. His wife Celia and children Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol were beside him in his final days.

He played an important role in Lionel Messi’s football career from his son’s childhood and later worked as his representative. Jorge also advised Messi on several career-related decisions outside the field. Messi had previously said that his father’s approval mattered to him and that he would ask him after every match how he had performed. During the 2026 World Cup, the family said Jorge was receiving treatment for health problems and requested privacy and respect amid speculation about his condition.

Argentina and South Korea have announced a partnership to deepen cooperation in the critical minerals industry, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said Friday. The announcement followed a meeting in Buenos Aires between Argentine President Javier Milei and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during Lee’s South American visit. It came one day after South Korea announced a similar critical minerals partnership with Chile.

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the agreement aims to encourage investment and joint projects in the exploration, extraction, processing and refining of critical minerals. Argentina’s presidential office said the leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, cooperation in critical minerals and energy, and developing joint projects in strategic sectors. The visit was the first by a South Korean leader to Argentina in 22 years.

On Friday, the Milei administration also authorized South Korean company Posco to expand lithium extraction operations in Salta province in northwestern Argentina. The Economy Ministry said the $547 million project could produce 23,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually and generate more than $300 million in yearly export revenue. Argentina is the world’s fifth-largest lithium producer.

FIFA has opened a formal disciplinary investigation into the Argentine Football Association and several Argentina players over incidents during and after the 2026 World Cup. The report, published on July 30, 2026, said FIFA will allow all parties involved to present their accounts of the allegations before any decision is made.

The most prominent issue concerns the display of a political banner related to “Las Malvinas,” or the Falkland Islands, after Argentina’s semifinal victory over England. FIFA disciplinary rules prohibit using international football as a platform for political messages. The investigation also covers a confrontation between Spain and Argentina players after the World Cup final.

FIFA’s inquiry names midfielder Leandro Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and coaching staff member Roberto Ayala. If the allegations are proven, the players could face match suspensions. The Argentine Football Association could also be subject to financial penalties and other sanctions, according to the report.

Seven people were killed when a helicopter crashed in Argentina’s western San Juan province on Wednesday morning while conducting a training exercise ahead of a wildfire response mission. The aircraft went down in Ischigualasto Natural Park after it was preparing to assist efforts against fires that had been burning for several days in a neighboring province.

Contact between the helicopter and the control room was lost at about 10:30 a.m. local time. San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego said in a post on X that seven people had died in the provincial helicopter accident. He said the victims included firefighters, police officers and Civil Protection Department personnel.

Emergency services said the cause of the crash was under investigation and rescue teams had been deployed to the site. The San Juan provincial government declared three days of mourning. Since the start of the week, multiple wildfires have spread through mountainous areas of La Rioja, where local firefighters reported that hundreds of hectares of forest had burned in only three days.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni signed a young fan’s symbolic “contract” to lead the side through the 2030 World Cup while visiting his hometown of Pujato after the 2026 World Cup. The moment involving Franco Otaviani was filmed and quickly went viral on social media, sparking discussion in Argentine football as uncertainty continues over Scaloni’s future with the national team.

Scaloni had returned to Pujato to spend time with his family after the World Cup, and fans have been gathering outside his home seeking photographs and autographs. Unlike other supporters, Franco brought a paper reading in Spanish, “Contrato para el Mundial Twenty Thirty,” meaning a contract for the 2030 World Cup. Scaloni signed it without hesitation.

After receiving the signature, Franco looked into the camera and told Argentine Football Association president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, “Now it is your turn,” referring to a formal renewal. Scaloni said after Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain that he would remain in charge until December under his current contract before deciding his future. Tapia has publicly expressed confidence in Scaloni and a desire to retain him. The fan’s document has no legal value.

Retirement speculation around Lionel Messi has intensified after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. The 39-year-old Argentina captain has not announced his retirement and has avoided questions on the subject since the tournament. His silence and tears after the final whistle have prompted questions over whether the match was his last in Argentina’s shirt.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes said it was time for many players to decide whether they would remain with the national team and that the matter should be considered calmly. He did not name Messi, although international media interpreted the remarks as an indication about the captain’s future. Coach Lionel Scaloni is also considering the future, while Nicolas Otamendi has already retired from international football.

Since beginning with Argentina in 2005, Messi has made 207 appearances, scoring 125 goals and providing 65 assists. He played 38 World Cup matches across six editions, with eight goals and four assists in 2026. TNT Sports reported that FIFA wants to stage a Finalissima between Spain and Argentina later this year, but whether Messi would feature remains uncertain.

Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has said he is uncertain whether he is mentally ready to continue playing for the national team after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain. In an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, published on July 24, the Boca Juniors player said he would need time to consider his future with the national side.

Paredes said the pain of losing the final would take a long time to overcome, despite Argentina's major achievements. He said maintaining the team's current level and carrying its structure forward would be difficult, adding that many players faced a time to make decisions calmly and after careful thought.

Reflecting on the successful period that began with the 2021 Copa America, Paredes said he was proud of the trophies won and of a World Cup team in which people found what they wanted. He dismissed wider discussion around refereeing, VAR and conspiracy theories, saying Argentina had a strong tournament but Spain played better in the final and deserved the title. Debate is also continuing over the futures of coach Lionel Scaloni, Lionel Messi and several senior players.

Argentine defender Facundo Medina has rejected rumors and conspiracy theories circulating on social media following Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Returning to his hometown Villa Carasa after the tournament, the Olympique Marseille player urged supporters not to believe claims or videos suggesting internal discord in the team’s dressing room. Medina emphasized that the squad remained united throughout the competition and asked fans to avoid spreading baseless stories.

He acknowledged the pain of losing the final but reminded supporters that football is not everything in life, stressing the importance of being a good person above all. Medina also explained that some players stayed in the United States after the final because they were dealing with disappointment, not because of any internal conflict. River Plate forward Flaco López, a longtime friend of Medina, agreed with his remarks, saying that spending time with familiar faces was helping them recover from the emotional setback.

Their comments come amid ongoing online speculation about the team’s unity and the circumstances following the World Cup final.

The World Cup final in New Jersey ended with Spain lifting the trophy, but questions continue to swirl about Argentina’s unusual demeanor before and during the match. Viral videos from the dressing room showed Lionel Messi telling teammates to stay calm and focus, sparking speculation about what he meant. A longer video later revealed tactical discussions among players, suggesting Messi’s words referred to handling match pressure rather than external issues.

Despite this clarification, fans and media noted several oddities: coach Lionel Scaloni appeared emotional, Messi missed multiple warm-up shots, and players seemed unusually somber. Argentina’s gameplay also lacked its usual rhythm, failing to register a single shot on target in 90 minutes, while key striker Lautaro Martínez remained on the bench. Injuries to defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, and Messi’s avoidance of a handshake with U.S. President Donald Trump, added to the intrigue.

FIFA and the Argentine Football Association have not commented, and no evidence supports claims of external interference. The report concludes that while speculation persists, the truth behind Argentina’s subdued final remains uncertain.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has returned to his hometown Rosario following his team’s 1–0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. The 39-year-old star arrived on Tuesday morning with his wife and three children aboard a private jet, greeted by thousands of fans who lined the route from the airport to his home in Funes. Local authorities confirmed that security was tightened as supporters gathered to express gratitude for his contributions to the national team.

Messi’s visit to Rosario is driven by personal reasons as well. His 68-year-old father, Jorge Messi, is reportedly seriously ill and under medical care. Family sources had shared the news during the World Cup, prompting Messi to return home immediately after the tournament. Most of the Argentina squad, including coach Lionel Scaloni, had already reached Buenos Aires to receive a hero’s welcome from fans.

According to ESPN, Messi will miss Inter Miami’s next two Major League Soccer matches, including the season opener against Chicago Fire and the MLS All-Star match on July 29, as he takes additional rest before returning to club football.

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) has announced a nationwide tribute to Lionel Messi, coach Lionel Scaloni, and the entire national team following their runner-up finish at the 2026 World Cup. Despite losing 1–0 to Spain in extra time, AFA President Claudio Tapia said all football stadiums across the country will hold a one-minute applause to honor the team’s effort, sacrifice, and achievement of reaching a second consecutive final.

Tapia shared on social media that South American football body CONMEBOL has allowed Argentine clubs participating in the Copa Sudamericana playoffs to carry special banners showing respect for the national team. The initiative aims to extend the gratitude and admiration already shown by thousands of fans who greeted the players at the airport upon their return.

The AFA’s move reflects a broader national sentiment of pride and appreciation, turning disappointment into celebration through a symbolic show of unity across Argentina’s football community.

Argentina’s national football team returned home to a warm reception in Buenos Aires after finishing as runners-up in the World Cup. The team, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, landed at Ezeiza International Airport on Monday local time, where they were greeted with a red carpet ceremony and a military band. However, captain Lionel Messi did not accompany the squad, as the Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed he remained in the United States for personal reasons.

Thousands of fans gathered outside the airport and near the national team’s training center, waving flags and cheering despite rain and cold weather. Their enthusiastic welcome reflected continued admiration for the players despite the loss. Earlier, following the World Cup final, large crowds had assembled at Buenos Aires’ Obelisk Square to celebrate, but the festivities turned chaotic when clashes broke out between some fans and police.

Authorities used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to restore order, detaining at least 15 people. Argentina’s 1–0 extra-time defeat to Spain ended their bid for back-to-back World Cup titles, yet the homecoming showed enduring national pride in Scaloni’s team.