Is there a bigger fan of international football than Argentina? The events of Sunday after the final defeat of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Spain also made this question difficult to answer.Instead of leaving in silence after the 1-0 overtime loss, Argentina’s supporters stayed behind to cheer on their team. They sang their football songs, chanting “Messiii, Messiii” around the pitch and blew the final whistle for the players.The same sentiment was visible thousands of miles away in Buenos Aires, where supporters gathered around the city’s Obelisk to thank the team despite the defeat. Their message was simple: “Gracias iguales.”ALSO READ: Lionel Messi will leave the FIFA World Cup in tears and as the greatest football playerFans were still hoping for a comeback until the final whistle. But after Spain’s victory, little by little disappointment began to appreciate the campaign that also led to Argentina reaching the final of the World Cup.At the Obelisk, the venue for football celebrations in Argentina’s capital, supporters who had gathered hours before kick-off stood in silence before singing songs in honor of the team.“We reached the finals, and it’s not a small thing,” said Luciano Ortega, a 20-year-old student with a smile, as he told the Buenos Aires Times.As the evening wore on (local time), more fans poured into the arena. Drums, firecrackers, firecrackers and car horns filled the air as supporters continued to sing regardless of the outcome.Argentine president Javier Milei also praised the team, writing on X: “Thank you, players! You fought until the end. Argentina is always on top. “In Rosario, Lionel MessiIn his hometown 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, hundreds gathered at the Monumento Nacional a la Bandera to salute the team after the finish.The monument was lit up in Argentina’s national colors as supporters waved flags, wore national team shirts and took pictures of Messi as fireworks lit up the night sky.“We have already won the World Cup, let’s not just cry, let’s celebrate. Messi has already taken us to the top of the world,” Sergio Irrazábal, who attended with his family wearing a blue and white wig, told AFP.South American football governing body CONMEBOL also acknowledged the incident, posting a video of the celebrations on X with the words: “Despite the result, Argentina appreciated the campaign of its team.”Spain’s win gave them their first World Cup title since 2010 and extended Luis de la Fuente’s side’s unbeaten run to a European record 38 games.For Argentina, the defeat ended an impressive defense that began when they lifted the trophy in Qatar four years ago. It also came in what is expected to be Lionel Messi’s last game at the World Cup.Despite the defeat, the mood in Buenos Aires showed more pride than disappointment. The supporters chose to celebrate the team that reached the final of the World Cup and stayed in the competition until Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time that ended the game.