Argentina Trophy Parade: FIFA World Cup – Lionel Messi and his teammates received a rousing reception upon arrival in Buenos Aires. Thousands of supporters gathered to welcome their heroes. Messi and coach Scaloni danced with fellow teammates on the parade bus as it took the players to the hotel from the airport. Even at midnight 2 AM, there were no dearth of supporters on streets of Buenos Aires. Throughout the country, millions took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate the penalty shoot-out victory over France in a remarkable final in Qatar. Argentina ended a 36-year wait to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy again. Watch Argentina Victory Parade LIVE with on InsideSport.IN
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Argentina Trophy Parade: Lionel Messi & Co dance on parade bus as thousands of fans join Celebrations in Buenos Aires to welcome Argentina’s HEROES- Watch Video
Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career with football’s biggest prize as he produced one of the greatest World Cup final performances, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time. France had fought back from 2-0 down in the last 10 minutes of the match as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to equalise and force extra time in a pulsating match watched by an 89,000 crowd in Lusail Stadium.
A homecoming to remember !💙🇦🇷🏆#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/CB6HaeThjC
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 20, 2022
They will then begin a tour of the Buenos Aires city center from midday on Tuesday with millions expected out in the streets on what is a public holiday. “Crowned with glory,” read a banner on a newspaper kiosk in Buenos Aires on Monday.
Clarin and La Prensa dailies both sent a huge “Thank you” to Messi and his teammates for winning the country’s third world title, and first in 36 years. Argentina won the final in Qatar 4-2 on penalties after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw over 120 minutes of unparalleled drama.
Argentina Trophy Parade: Lionel Messi & Co dance on parade bus as thousands of fans join Celebrations in Buenos Aires to welcome Argentina’s HEROES- Watch Video
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Messi, who scored twice in the final, was the first player to emerge from the plane, holding the World Cup aloft, with coach Lionel Scaloni right behind him. Forward Julian Alvarez, a revelation in Qatar with his four goals, was one of the next players to emerge. A picture of Messi was emblazoned on the plane’s tail with the words: “one team, one country, one dream” on its side.
“Of course, it’s what we’re all waiting for,” teacher Veronica Silva, 44, told AFP from the Plaza de Mayo square in central Buenos Aires. “This will continue for a couple of days. It started now and it won’t end tomorrow because they arrive tomorrow: it will go on for longer.”
Argentina Trophy Parade: Lionel Messi & Co dance on parade bus as thousands of fans join Celebrations in Buenos Aires to welcome Argentina’s HEROES- Watch Video
The players made their way from the plane along a red carpet straight to an open top bus as their World Cup theme song “Muchachos” by ska band La Mosca blared out. Excitement had been brewing since the party that began after Sunday’s final ahead of the players’ arrival.
“I’m going to greet them at the airport. Now that they have been crowned we have to greet them and thank them,” Jose Luis Quinoga, 56, told AFP at the Obelisk memorial in central Buenos Aires, where the night before more than a million people celebrated.
Argentina Trophy Parade: Lionel Messi & Co dance on parade bus as thousands of fans join Celebrations in Buenos Aires to welcome Argentina’s HEROES- Watch Video
A private reception at a VIP suite in the airport had been arranged to greet the returning players and the AFA said they will celebrate with fans at the Obelisk on Tuesday. “I will leave work and the first thing I will do is come here,” Julieta Rosel, 23, told AFP at the monument.
Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career with football’s biggest prize as he produced one of the greatest World Cup final performances, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
In doing so he emulated his predecessor as Argentina’s idol, Diego Maradona who inspired the country to their second world title with a series of match-winning displays at Mexico 1986.
“I remember ’86 but this victory yesterday was much more emotional and much more stressful,” architect Ricardo Grunfeld, 65, told AFP. “I don’t know if there’s any difference with ’86 but this comes at a good time,” added Zulema Guereri, 80.
Argentina had led 2-0 with 10 minutes of normal time left and 3-2 with only two minutes of extra-time to go but Kylian Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick in history to take the gripping final to penalties, before Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick.
Argentina Trophy Parade: Lionel Messi & Co dance on parade bus as thousands of fans join Celebrations in Buenos Aires to welcome Argentina’s HEROES- Watch Video
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