Argentina defender Senesi granted 'Distinguished Citizen' in hometown, recalls near-miss in World Cup final

Hupu Football News | July 24th

After concluding his 2026 World Cup journey with the Argentine national team, defender Marcos Senesi returned to his hometown of Concordia in the province of Entre Ríos, where he was warmly welcomed by the local community. Thousands of fans gathered in front of the Municipal Palace for a grand recognition ceremony honouring the player who rose from his hometown to the world stage.

During the event, Senesi expressed his gratitude to the townspeople and reflected with regret on a pivotal moment in the World Cup final that left all Argentines sighing in disappointment.

The Near-Equaliser

Senesi detailed the attack that nearly changed the outcome of the match:

"At that moment, I saw Giuliano Simeone making a run from the outside, and my first instinct was to move forward and get into position. Cubarsi made an excellent block behind me, and I managed to get to the ball between two defenders. That image will stay in my mind forever because I know I was just a few centimetres away from putting the ball into the net. Unfortunately, those few centimetres weren't on our side."

This opportunity nearly allowed Argentina to equalise in the final moments of regular time and force the match into a penalty shootout. However, fate did not favour Scaloni's team. Spain scored the winning goal through Ferran Torres in the first half of extra time, leaving Argentina unable to turn the tide.

A Last-Minute Call-Up

It is worth noting that Senesi was not originally included in the preliminary World Cup squad. He was called up at the last minute due to an injury to Balerdi before the tournament. This late call-up allowed him to step onto the highest stage of world football and become a witness to that thrilling attack in the final.

Facing the surging crowd in front of the Municipal Palace, Senesi could hardly contain his emotions:

"Obviously, seeing everyone gathered here fills me with joy. I never imagined I would experience something like this—returning to my hometown and being welcomed so grandly. It's simply incredible. I am deeply grateful to every one of my fellow townspeople who came here."

Honoured as 'Distinguished Citizen'

During the event, a proposal promoted by city councillor Celeste Fuscado was approved, officially granting Senesi the title of "Distinguished Citizen." According to the city government, this is the highest honour established under Local Decree No. 38537.

In her speech at the ceremony, Fuscado said:

"I had the privilege of knowing Senesi before he became famous. I can say with certainty that he is a person who has cultivated important values throughout his growth—humility, dedication, and a sense of responsibility have always been evident in his words and actions."

The player, who remains the same in the eyes of his hometown folks, returned to where he started, carrying both the regret and glory of the World Cup final.

Source: TyC Sports

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