Lionel Messi bought specially designed mate sets for every Argentina player in the days leading up to the 2022 World Cup final, according to a video shared by Marcos Senesi’s partner.
Kelsey Rose Powers, an English footballer and girlfriend of defender Senesi, published a clip on social media showcasing the bespoke mate kit her partner received from the Argentina captain.
Wearing an Argentina shirt in the video, Powers displayed a brown bag bearing the Argentine Football Association crest, an image of the World Cup trophy and “Marcos Senesi” printed on the front.
“I want to show you something really cool that you will love,” she said in the video. “This is a personalised bag that Marcos won at the tournament, and his name is written on it.”
Messi gift for entire squad
Powers explained that the bag was part of a gift package Messi had arranged for all members of the Argentina squad shortly before the final against Spain.
Inside the bag was a gold-coloured Stanley thermos – a high-end insulated flask for hot water – branded with Messi’s personal logo as captain of the “Albiceleste”.
The set also included a traditional mate gourd used for drinking the popular South American infusion, a pack of yerba mate leaves and a metal straw with an integrated spoon at the end, designed to filter the drink.
According to Powers, Senesi gave her the entire set to look after and transport to Miami, where the defender is currently based.
Insight into Argentina’s inner circle
The video quickly spread across social media platforms, offering a rare glimpse into life inside the Argentina camp during their ultimately triumphant World Cup campaign.
By choosing mate – one of Argentina’s most recognisable cultural traditions – Messi is understood to have used the gift as a symbol of the shared rituals that helped unite the squad.
The communal act of preparing and drinking mate is a daily routine for many Argentine players and staff, and within the national team it has become a way of strengthening bonds and fostering togetherness.
Messi’s gesture, combining a practical gift with a strong cultural meaning, highlighted the collective spirit that characterised Argentina’s run to the world title, even if the surprise “golden” thermos sets could not prevent a subsequent defeat to Spain.
