Lima responds to controversy over photo of him with his back to the camera: We were greeting our opponents; we were watching the Argentine fans at the time.

A week after losing the World Cup final to Spain, Lisandro Martínez made a public appearance in his hometown of Guareguaí, receiving a warm welcome from the city authorities and citizens. He was also declared an honorary citizen. Another world champion was also born here – Burruchaga, who scored the winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Germany in 1986.

Wearing his national team jacket, Martinez received cheers from his hometown fans before taking to the stage set up for the event.

He said: "It is a pride to represent my city. I was fortunate to be the champion in 2022, and although we couldn't do it this time, we still gained a lot. We made progress in unity and respect, and showed the world what it means to be Argentinian. We brought Argentina to the top of the world."

In his speech, he also conveyed a message to young people who love football: "What stood out most about me back then was my mindset. I had my family supporting me, and I wanted to leave my legacy in football. I see many children here who love football. I want to tell you to believe in yourselves, work hard, and never give up. You will encounter many difficulties, and some people will hold you back, but I believe that with the help of family, friends, and those around you, dreams are meant to be realized."

After leading the crowd in singing "The English are the ones who don't dance," he also spoke about the Falklands flag displayed during the semi-final: "That was a unique moment. It's part of our history. We commemorate and pay tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives in the Falklands War."

Regarding the attacks on Argentina from abroad, he added: "I have mixed feelings. What's infuriating is that they have no reason to create that kind of hatred. Then I saw my teammates fighting on the field, and I saw the people cheering for us and making us feel like we were playing at home. They say we're arrogant, but maybe that reflects more on those who do those things than on us. We've always had great respect for our opponents."

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the criticism Spain received at the awards ceremony: "They even said we didn't acknowledge Spain's victory. We greeted all of their players and coaching staff. The photo of us with our backs turned was because we were looking at the fans cheering for us, and that was a way of showing them respect."

Lisandro Martinez is currently spending his post-World Cup break with his family. Once he's recovered, he will return to Europe to join Manchester United's pre-season preparations.