Is there a more iconic image from the 2022 World Cup than Argentina's Lionel Messi lifting the trophy wrapped in a traditional bisht in Lusail, Qatar? Perhaps not, and the Argentina faithful in Miami are hopeful the all-time great can run it back in 2026.
“We can do it again. We have a good team,” said Cristian Blanco, a Miami resident.
Mr Blanco was one of many Argentina fans who descended on Miami's South Beach for the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina are considered among the favourites to win the tournament.
Outside the Fifa fanfest in Bayfront Park, a school bus was painted with Argentina's trophy lift in Lusail. Messi scored a brace in the final against France, which the Albiceleste would ultimately be won on penalties.
It was a seminal moment in Messi's career and put the final piece in his decorated trophy cabinet.
He has won the Ballon d'Or eight times, the Uefa Champions League four times, La Liga with Barcelona 10 times, and Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain twice. Those represent a handful of the dozens of trophies he has collected in his career.
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Lionel Messi holds up the trophy after Argentina defeated France on penalties in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. AP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after beating France. AP -
France's Kylian Mbappe walks past the trophy at the end of the match. AP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi holds up the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament. AP -
Argentina celebrate victory at Lusail Stadium. Getty -
Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the trophy after beating France 4-2 on penalties. EPA -
Argentina celebrate victory. AP -
Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrates with World Cup trophy. PA -
Kylian Mbappe of France with his Golden Boot award for finishing as the tournament's top scorer. EPA -
Argentina players celebrate after winning the World Cup final penalty shoot-out against France. Getty -
Argentina players celebrate victory. Getty -
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi celebrate after winning the World Cup. Reuters -
Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring the winning penalty against France. Getty -
Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring during the penalty shoot-out against France. Reuters -
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves from Kingsley Coman of France in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores for Argentina in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Emiliano Martinez of Argentina celebrates after saving Kingsley Coman's penalty. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe completes his hat-trick from the spot to make it 3-3. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his, and France's, third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Reuters -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. PA -
Argentina's Lionel Messi goes for a high challenge on Eduardo Camavinga of France. Getty -
Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring Argentina's third. AFP -
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is beaten by the penalty of France's Kylian Mbappe. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring France's second goal. PA -
Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi fouls Randal Kolo Muani of France giving away a penalty. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe volleys home France's second goal. Getty -
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria skips past the challenge of France's Antoine Griezmann. PA -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the first France goal. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe scores France's first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters -
Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring Argentina's second goal. Reuters -
Argentina's Lionel Messi sends France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way from the spot. Getty -
France's Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi of Argentina. Getty -
Angel Di Maria scores for Argentina in the first-half. Getty -
France's Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Adrien Rabiot after Argentina made it 2-0. PA -
Argentina's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring with France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on his knees. Reuters -
Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico and Randal Kolo Muani fight for the ball. AP -
Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty -
Lionel Messi is mobbed by Argentina teammates after scoring. Getty -
France's Jules Kounde heads the ball. AP -
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty -
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria earns a penalty after going down under the challenge of France's Ousmane Dembele. Getty -
France's Olivier Giroud shakes hands with manager Didier Deschamps after being substituted in the first half. PA -
Lionel Messi scores from the spot for Argentina. PA -
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a first-half penalty for Argentina. Getty -
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saves from Argentina's Julian Alvarez. AP -
France manager Didier Deschamps, left, with his Argentina counterpart Lionel Scaloni before the game. AP -
Argentina players before the match. AP -
France players before the match. Getty
A large South American contingent was present for Fifa's fan fest at the Bayfront Park, with fans wearing the Argentina kit famous for its vertical white and sky-blue stripes. Some were wrapped in the Argentina flag.
Fans from other South American countries could also be seen draped in their flags or wearing their countries' kits, including Ecuador and Colombia, as well as US neighbour Japan. Fans from England, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Haiti and Saudi Arabia were also gathered for the festivities.
"We are ready to win the fourth. We are not done yet. Messi is still playing,” said Pablo Urena, a Miami resident from Buenos Aires.
Argentina's 2022 triumph was an emotional one for Mr Urena's family, who watched every game together.
“It was the most beautiful feeling with the family,” he said.
At 38, Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player could be playing in his final World Cup. He had previously announced his retirement from international football after Chile defeated Argentina in the 2016 Copa America final, but was named to Argentina's World Cup qualifying squad two months later.
“We need to enjoy Messi. We need to enjoy the moments,” Mr Blanco said.
Argentina are favourites to finish top in Group J that also features Algeria, Austria and World Cup debutants Jordan. They begin their World Cup journey against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday.
Progressing from the group stage is not enough for Argentina's fans, who are hoping for another deep run at this year's World Cup.
Miami resident Brenda Valencia said that while she sees France and Portugal as Argentina's biggest threats for the trophy, she believes the team can make another run to the final.
“We won all the competitions that we play. We are there again,” she said.
