During a tearful farewell ceremony for Lionel Messi at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina national team defender Agustín Giay traded his official team jacket for a traditional handcrafted poncho worn by singer Soledad Pastorutti, which he subsequently gifted to his mother.
Agustín Giay Swaps Team Jacket for Soledad Pastorutti's Poncho
Following an emotional rendition of the song “Brindis” performed by Soledad Pastorutti in the central circle of the pitch, the singer embraced the team captain, drawing visible emotion from the crowd and the squad. As Messi addressed the spectators from the field, Agustín Giay approached the artist to propose a sudden swap. The 22-year-old defender, currently playing for Palmeiras after coming through San Lorenzo, offered the official Albiceleste jacket he was wearing in exchange for the singer’s distinctive celeste and white poncho.
Pastorutti accepted the proposal on the spot and put on the national team jacket, while Giay received the artisan-crafted outerwear. Nearby players laughed as the spontaneous trade unfolded on the turf. The moment quickly circulated across social media platforms, turning into one of the most talked-about curiosities of the evening.
The Journey of the Catamarqueño Poncho to a Mother’s Hands
Days after the event at the Estadio Monumental, Giay revealed the true purpose behind the swap. In an Instagram post featuring photographs from the match, the defender shared an image of his mother smiling while wearing the iconic poncho. Fans flooded the comments section with approval, noting that the player orchestrated the trade specifically to present the garment to his mother. In his post, Giay wrote: Hoy termina una etapa, pero lo que dejaste en nosotros y en millones de personas no termina nunca.
He added: Gracias por cada momento, por cada alegría y por hacerme sentir, aunque sea por un rato, parte de algo único. Compartir una cancha con vos, Leo, fue un privilegio que voy a guardar para siempre. Verte jugar, competir y disfrutar hasta el último minuto fue un orgullo. Fue un honor jugar a tu lado. Gracias por todo, el mejor de la historia.
Commenters reacted with statements such as Él solo quería el poncho para su mamá,
La última foto… ¡Genio!,
El cambio de campera por poncho es todo lo que está bien,
and El tipo hizo feliz a la madre. Ya está adentro del corazón de los argentinos.
The garment itself carries significant cultural weight. The piece is known as the “poncho bandera,” an artisanal creation originating from the Rua Chaky workshop in Belén, Catamarca province. Creators stated in an Instagram video that hay al menos uno en cada continente,
noting that the transition from blue to indigo is done with indigo and the sun is embroidered and dyed using common onion skin, requiring between 15 and 20 days to finish. The item has also been exhibited along the Ruta del Telar within the Mercado de Artesanías Argentina.
