Argentine soccer fans urged captain Lionel Messi not to leave the national team as the losing Copa America finalists returned to Buenos Aires on Monday.

The bulk of the Argentine squad returned to Buenos Aires on Monday, a day after being beaten by Chile on penalties in the Copa America final in the United States.

Dozens of supporters gathered at Buenos Aires airport to welcome the players, especially captain Lionel Messi, who announced on Sunday he will no longer play for the national team.

With flags, banners and Argentine shirts, fans of all ages claimed they wanted to cheer Messi up and beg him not to leave the team.

"Having the best player in the world and not having him in our national team would be a waste. I just cannot imagine it, I don't even want not imagine it", said one argentine fan.

One banner read, 'Messi, if you played in heaven, I would die just to see you'.

Some players like Sergio Romero or Gonzalo Higuain decided to stay in the US and avoid immediate return to their country.

Coach Gerardo Tata Martino also arrived with his team and he will be back to work next Monday, training the national under-23 team for the Olympic Games.