Messi Gifts Argentina Squad Gold Stanley Mate Sets After World Cup Final Loss

Lionel Messi may have left the 2026 World Cup without a second consecutive title, but he made sure his Argentina teammates didn’t walk away empty-handed. According to Kelci-Rose Bowers, partner of defender Marcos Senesi, Messi presented every player in Lionel Scaloni’s squad with a personalized mate set following the tournament.

What Was Inside the Gift

Each package included a custom bag bearing the player’s name, the Argentina crest and the World Cup logo, along with a gold-colored Stanley thermos, a mate cup, a metal bombilla straw, and yerba mate leaves. Bowers shared footage of Senesi’s set, noting that the caramel-toned bag was personalized and that he had left it with her for safekeeping ahead of their return to Miami. She confirmed Messi extended the same gesture to the entire squad.

The choice of gift reflected Argentina’s mate-drinking culture, a daily ritual players share during training and travel, rather than a purely extravagant token. It also echoed Messi’s past generosity — after the 2022 World Cup win, he reportedly gifted teammates and staff dozens of gold iPhones worth a combined sum exceeding $200,000.

A Difficult End to the Tournament

The gesture came after Argentina’s heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final on July 19, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal. Messi, now 39, still finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists across eight matches, but Argentina’s bid to defend its title and match Brazil’s 1962 repeat fell short. Senesi, who joined the squad after an injury to Leonardo Balerdi, earned his World Cup debut during the campaign. Despite the disappointing finish, Messi’s gesture underscored unity within the squad as his international future remains uncertain.