CNN
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Argentina’s World Cup winners arrived at their home in Buenos Aires to a roar of applause early Tuesday morning, with huge crowds lining the streets to support the champions’ return.
Captain Lionel Messi was the first to step off the plane, holding the gold trophy aloft and the victorious team following the airport red carpet where they were greeted by reporters, officials and a live band.
As soon as the team bus left the airport, cheering crowds dressed in the national colors of blue and white swarmed. The video shows the bus slowly advancing behind a police escort, surrounded by tens of thousands of people waving Argentinian flags and setting off firecrackers at night. increase.
The air filled with cheers as the crowd sang and danced. The players on the open top deck waved to the enthusiastic supporters.
Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to line the streets of the capital late Tuesday for the team’s victory parade following Sunday’s thrilling penalty shootout victory over France in Qatar.
According to state media Teram, the team will spend the night at the Argentine Football Association’s training ground.
Hundreds of supporters had set up camp on the training ground ahead of the team’s arrival on Monday. Some people spread blankets on the lawn, others lounge on picnic chairs around the cooler.
The team’s highly anticipated return follows Argentina’s explosive victory over France, with days of non-stop celebration among fans across the country and abroad.
Superstars Messi and Kylian Mbappe faced off on the pitch in what is widely called the greatest World Cup final of all time.
Mbappe was defending France’s 2018 win at the tournament in Russia, while Messi, 35, was playing in the final match of the World Cup.
Argentina took the lead in the first half, but France fought back in the second half, resulting in a 2-2 draw and the match going into extra time.
Messi scored the second goal of the match to regain the lead for his team, but Mbappe scored the second penalty to score a hat-trick and take the final to penalties, where France scored two shots. After missing out, it ended with Argentina’s victory.
Hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Buenos Aires and the central 9th of July Street after the World Cup victory. Videos on social media showed jubilant fans climbing onto street lights and waving Argentinian flags. Others on the ground danced, sang and chanted in celebration.
The victory in Doha was Argentina’s third World Cup win and the first since 1986, when the legendary Diego Maradona led the team to victory in Mexico.
Sunday’s victory was also a change of fortune for Argentina, who had recently lost three major finals in the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America.
These defeats prompted Messi to announce his retirement from international football at one point, but before winning the 2021 Copa America, a near-unanimous nationwide outcry forced him out of the way. Persuaded to go backwards.
Now, with the World Cup also under his belt, Messi has cemented himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time alongside Maradona and Brazil’s Pele.
“I can’t believe we suffered so much in a perfect game. It’s unbelievable, but this team is ready for everything,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaroni told Reuters after Sunday’s game. .
“I’m proud of what they’ve done,” he added, holding back tears as he embraced his players. “I want to tell people to enjoy it. This is a historic moment for our country.”