Lionel Messi provided his entire Argentina squad with personalized gifts following their second-place finish in the World Cup. The gesture included custom backpacks, golden Stanley water bottles, and traditional mate sets for each player.
Kelci-Rose Bowers, the girlfriend of Argentina player Marcos Senesi, shared a video on social media showcasing the gifts. Senesi, who plays for a Premier League team, received a backpack with his name on it, designed to hold the items for preparing and drinking mate, a popular South American herbal drink.
Senesi and Bowers first met while playing for Bournemouth. Senesi has since transferred to Tottenham on a free transfer.
Bowers' video detailing Messi's gift has garnered significant attention online, with hundreds of thousands of views. Her decision to support Argentina over England during the tournament also proved to be a notable choice.
The World Cup final marked a significant moment, with some teammates suggesting it could be Lionel Messi's last game for the national team. Teammate Leandro Paredes indicated that Messi had already made a decision about concluding his international career after the tournament. Nicolas Otamendi has already stepped away from international play following the team's performance in the final.
Messi himself reflected on the team's journey, acknowledging the immense pain of defeat but also cherishing the positive moments and the nation's unified support. He highlighted the team's achievement of reaching two consecutive World Cup finals and expressed pride in representing Argentina.
Messi has had a storied international career, including a prior retirement from Argentina duty in 2016, followed by a return that led to victories in the 2022 World Cup and two Copa Americas. His generosity towards his teammates is a notable aspect of his leadership.
Senesi's inclusion in the World Cup squad came as a late call-up. He was added after an injury to defender Leonardo Balerdi, with Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni selecting him as a replacement. Bowers documented Senesi's reaction to receiving the call-up, which occurred while they were on holiday in Ibiza. The defender had been playing well for Bournemouth, helping the team secure a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League. Senesi had made limited appearances for Argentina prior to the World Cup, including two games during the tournament, one of which was as a late substitute in the final.