Tears in Argentina for Lionel Messi’s ‘Last Tango’

The spell that had carried Argentina to the World Cup final, through immense suffering and unexpected triumphs, was broken. In Buenos Aires, fans moved toward the obelisk — the traditional center for victory celebrations — bearing flags through a cold, rainy night in what felt like a funeral procession for the dream of defending their country’s 2022 title.

“I cried so much, I fainted, I fell like the last soldier in Troy,” said Martí Pereira, a 24-year-old student, as he walked near the obelisk with a friend, both draped in the Argentine flag like a cape. “It’s a blow.”

In the city center, Argentines still lit the fireworks and colored smoke bombs they had bought for the game and blared their plastic horns in what now sounded like somber laments. The crowd was disappointed, defeated — more for their star, Lionel Messi, than for themselves.

“It was the last tango of the best in the world, but it didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” said Mafalda Moreno, 36, as she stood at the back of a bar, sobbing.

Thousands of the fans in Buenos Aires had Messi’s number — 10 — on their T-shirts. Some had his face tattooed on biceps, and all had his name on the tip of their tongues. In Rosario, the city where Messi was born, a gigantic jersey bearing his name was hoisted on Saturday. Now the Argentines’ overwhelming, absolute love for Messi had begun to turn to nostalgia.

This was widely viewed as Messi’s last World Cup, and while the star has not officially confirmed that he will leave, he has left hints. On Saturday, he published a photo of himself in his special-edition Adidas sneakers called “The Last Tango.”

“I would have loved the fourth star for Messi,” said Jennifer Guaráz, 27, referring to a potential fourth World Cup for Argentina, as she drank Fernet and Coca-Cola, Argentina’s national drink, in front of the obelisk. “He deserved it.”

Still, the defeat did not fully kill the Argentine party.

By the time Argentina reached the final, the team had already accomplished much of what it had wanted from a World Cup: weeks of collective obsession, suffering and release. And a victory against England.

“At least we got to the final — the English did not even get here,” Ms. Guaráz said.

Franco Cruz, 24, a student, agreed.

“I think the game with England was much more important,” he said. “That is what matters.”

Now, Argentina prepared to welcome the return home of their team, affectionately nicknamed La Scaloneta after its coach, Lionel Scaloni. Despite the defeat, Argentines were unyielding in their devotion.

Their affection was unbroken, said a fan, Cristian Maidana, 42, adding: “I’ll love them until death.”

Natalie Alcoba contributed reporting from Buenos Aires.