Kelci-Rose Bowers reveals presents from Lionel Messi after supporting Argentina over England
English football star Kelci-Rose Bowers has has put to bed any talk of trouble in the Argentina camp
Bowers shows off the bag(Image: TikTok/@_kelci.rose)
Lionel Messi has squashed any suggestion of tension within the Argentina camp after presenting his teammates with gifts following their World Cup final loss to Spain. The disclosure comes via Kelci-Rose Bowers, the English girlfriend of Argentina and Spurs defender Marcos Senesi.
Bowers, 22, a footballer herself, used TikTok to display the items Messi distributed to his colleagues. Initially, she revealed a caramel-coloured bag bearing her partner’s name, the Argentina crest and the World Cup emblem.
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The Inter Miami superstar also provided Senesi and his squad with a golden Stanley Cup etched with his personal logo, alongside an additional cup. All the merchandise is thought to support mate, a beloved South American beverage.
Kelci-Rose Bowers with the gold Stanley Cup on TikTok(Image: TikTok/@_kelci.rose)
Bowers mentioned she had been charged with keeping the luxury present “safe” by her partner, noting that it was “pretty cool that I’ve got it”.
Speculation regarding a possible distraction affecting Argentina players in the World Cup final emerged after clips surfaced of Messi’s peculiar pre-match address. The whispers gained momentum with Argentina visibly below-par in the 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Footage from within the tunnel prior to kick-off showed Argentina players leaving their changing room. Messi was heard pleading: “Come on, boys, let’s forget what happened, as if nothing had happened.”
Lionel Messi hinted at a pre-match issue for Argentina during the speech to his team-mates before the World Cup final (Image: TyC Sports)
Bowers has been cheering on Argentina(Image: Instagram/kelci.rose)
Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez were two figures in the backdrop of the footage, looking noticeably distressed. Post-match incidents, with Argentina stars becoming involved in multiple altercations with their rivals, also appeared to suggest some deeper tensions boiling over.
Yet Messi’s gestures seem to indicate all remains harmonious within the squad. Despite Bowers originating from Fareham, Hampshire, and even representing the Lionesses, the defender was seen donning Argentina-related attire at numerous fixtures throughout this summer’s competition as she backed Senesi.
Her switch to supporting England’s great and historic adversaries has sparked debate, considering her background. In 2022, Bowers featured for her nation at under-21 level and shared an image of herself in the English women’s national team lineup, writing: “Always an honour to wear this shirt.”
Kelci-Rose Bowers pictured(Image: Instagram/@_kelci.rose_)
She was in attendance for Argentina’s triumph over England in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, while she rejoiced with her partner following the final whistle, she reaffirmed her loyalty to England on her Instagram story, writing: “Proud of my country.”
She recently revealed to The Times: “I grew up wearing an England shirt and had the privilege of representing England, so that connection will always be incredibly strong.
“[But] when your partner is playing in one of the biggest games of his career, naturally you want him to do well too. I’ll be supporting Marcos personally while still feeling incredibly proud whenever I see England on a stage like this. I’m incredibly proud of him.
Kelci-Rose Bowers has recently left Bournemouth(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Bowers struck up a romance with Senesi after she joined Bournemouth last year(Image: https://www.instagram.com/_kelci.rose_/?hl=en)
“Supporting Argentina, embracing the culture in Argentina and posting on my social media wearing the Argentina shirt is something that I’ve been doing. And I don’t really feel like there’s anything wrong with that.”
Following a spell in the USA playing for Louisiana State University, Bowers returned to the UK, making her home in Portsmouth. She subsequently joined Bournemouth, where she encountered former Cherries centre-back Senesi, but has since departed the South Coast outfit.
Senesi switched to Spurs on a free transfer this summer. The defender was a late addition to Argentina’s World Cup squad following Leonardo Balerdi’s injury withdrawal.
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