Following the celebratory moment in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi headed home for the holidays, taking the long-awaited break with his loved ones.
The Argentina squad’s World Cup triumph in Qatar did not unfold exactly as everyone had pictured. The team bus had trouble reaching the Obelisk, and upon entering the city, it had to alter its route, stopping near Parque Roca before several helicopters ferried them back to the AFA facilities.
Messi’s time at Ezeiza was brief. On the 10th, he packed his things, exchanged farewells with his teammates after weeks of shared effort, and hopped aboard a private plane with Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala. They flew to Messi’s hometown of Rosario, where, together, they continued the journey by helicopter to the field. First, Kily González greeted them, then Antonella Rocuzzo joined in, finishing the ride in a car to the family home, where fans were waiting in great numbers for a glimpse or a gesture from the idol.
For Messi, the moment called for a well-deserved rest. He would spend time with his wife, children, parents, in-laws, brothers, and other members of his inner circle who had arrived a few hours earlier from Qatar, where they had not missed a single Argentina match. The family planned to celebrate Christmas in the Santa Fe region, embracing a quiet and joyful holiday together.
Current plans for Messi’s return to Paris to rejoin Paris Saint-Germain were not officially announced. Reports suggested the trip might be scheduled for Monday, December 26, meaning the new year would begin in France. PSG has a Ligue 1 match on December 28 and another slated for January 1, with Messi’s return likely to occur around January 6 for the French Cup against Châteauroux or January 11 in a league clash with Angers.
Further updates were not provided here, with details remaining subject to confirmation from the clubs involved and the players themselves.
Note: This account consolidates events as they were observed and reported by media outlets covering the team’s post-tournament movements.