Uruguay gave their World Cup team a hero’s welcome home, even after losing

Uruguay might have lost in the quarter finals of the World Cup, but you’d never know it from the reception they got upon arriving home.

Thousands of fans gathered at the airport in Montevideo to welcome the team home from Russia, and make them feel like champions — even after the 2-0 loss to France.

The welcome was extra special for goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Muslera had an objectively bad game, allowed a goal in a blunder, and was definitely the unfortunate focal point in the loss, but the crowd were there for their countryman, leading raucous “MUSLERA!” chants upon his arrival.

There are reports the lead up to the game were unimaginably difficult for Muslera. Shortly before taking the pitch in Russia he learned his grandmother had died, and his uncle had died in a car accident on the same weekend. Yet, the keeper did his best to play through and regardless of the outcome he was a hero, along with the rest of Uruguay’s team.

This was something special.