Did Lionel Messi really give every Argentina player a gold Stanley set after losing the World Cup? Here’s the truth behind the viral gift | Football News
Lionel Messi left the 2026 World Cup without another title, but his Argentina teammates did not leave empty-handed.Kelci-Rose Bowers, the partner of Argentina defender Marcos Senesi, revealed that Messi gave every member of Lionel Scaloni’s squad a personalized mate set after the tournament. The collection included a custom bag, a gold-colored Stanley thermos, a mate cup, a metal straw and yerba mate. Multiple sources have reported details from Bowers’ social media video. So, yes, Messi did give every Argentina teammate a personalized Stanley set after the 2026 World Cup, but the bottles were gold-colored, not made of gold.
Lionel Messi gave Argentina players personalized mate sets after the World Cup
Bowers showed Senesi’s gift in a video after Argentina’s campaign ended. The caramel-colored bag carried Senesi’s name, the Argentina crest, the World Cup logo and light blue details.“This is a personalised bag that Marcos got from the camp,” Bowers said. Inside the bag was a gold-colored Stanley thermos marked with Messi’s logo. The set also contained a mate cup, a bombilla straw and yerba mate, the dried leaves used to prepare the drink. Bowers said Messi gave the same type of set to every player in Argentina’s squad.“I have to show you guys something really cool. You will be very happy to see this. Marcos brought this bag from the camp. It also has his name written on it. This is his mate set. Messi gave this gift to all the players,” she said.Senesi then left the collection with Bowers for safekeeping. “Marcos gave me it to keep safe and take back to Miami,” she said.Bowers later described it as a “pretty cool gift” and said it was “pretty cool that I’ve got it.”The gift was personal because mate is part of Argentina’s daily team culture. Players regularly carry mate sets to training, hotels and stadiums. They prepare and share the drink together, so Messi selected something tied directly to the squad’s routine rather than a generic luxury item.The choice also matched Messi’s history of giving personalized gifts to Argentina teammates. After the 2022 World Cup, he reportedly commissioned 35 gold iPhones for players and staff. Reports at the time valued that collection at more than $200,000.
The gift followed Argentina’s painful loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final
Messi handed out the sets after Argentina fell short of winning consecutive World Cups. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. Ferran Torres scored the deciding goal in the 106th minute.Argentina had entered the final with a chance to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup. Messi could not score or assist in the loss, ending his run of 11 straight World Cup appearances with a goal contribution.Even so, the 39-year-old finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists in eight matches. Argentina reached another final four years after winning in Qatar, but Spain ended the repeat bid.Senesi joined Argentina’s squad late after Leonardo Balerdi suffered an injury. He made his World Cup debut in a 3-1 group-stage win over Jordan and later appeared again during the knockout rounds.The mate set now links Senesi’s first World Cup to Messi’s final act as captain during the tournament. It also showed how Messi responded after the defeat. He did not blame teammates or distance himself from the group. He gave every player the same personalized collection built around a shared Argentina tradition.Messi’s international future remained uncertain after the final, but the gift offered one clear message. The World Cup ended in disappointment. The squad still left with a reminder of the group that reached the final together.
