Hundreds of thousands of fans took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Tuesday, eager to catch a glimpse of the open-top bus carrying the Argentina national soccer team that won one of the biggest Cup finals in history of the world, as she headed to the capital to celebrate.
The bus left the headquarters of the Argentine Football Federation (FAF) outside the capital and moved slowly as thousands of people lined the highway, many waving Argentine flags.
Team captain Lionel Messi and the rest of the players waved to fans from the bus as they carried the World Cup trophy aloft after winning the country’s third title, the first since 1986.
Argentina beat France 4-2 in the penalty shootout on Sunday.
“It’s madness, it’s indescribable,” Brian Andreassi, 23, said as he walked downtown in the team jersey. ” There are no words. »
Good news
The World Cup and the success of the team led by Messi brought much-needed good news to a country that has been stuck in the economic doldrums for years, suffers one of the highest inflation rates in the world and where nearly four in 10 people live in poverty.
“There is a huge union among all Argentines – unity, happiness. It is as if you could breathe another air, there is another energy in the air,” said Victoria Roldán. “My body and my heart are about to burst. »
Wearing a World Cup replica, the 32-year-old headed downtown with her sister, Mariana, as they tried to find the best place to catch a glimpse of the team, and in particular its captain.
“We go where they say ‘Leo’ [le surnom de Messi] will be because we are dying to see it,” Roldán said.
“To see him with that huge smile, with those bright eyes filled with hope, it really fills our hearts with joy and happiness. We are very happy for this country to enjoy this happiness and I think “Leo” deserved it for years, and it was his moment. »
The players were all smiles as they watched the multitudes of fans gathered to see them, many trying to get as close to the bus as possible.
As rumors swirled about a change in the route of the bus, a sea of people crowded a highway where the team was due to pass on a scorching summer day.
Thousands of people had set up camp since early Tuesday morning at the Obelisk, the emblematic monument of Buenos Aires which is the traditional place of celebrations. But as the number of people increased, it was uncertain whether the bus would get there, as it was feared that it could not pass safely.
Public holiday
President Alberto Fernández declared a public holiday on Tuesday so the country could celebrate winning the World Cup.
Thousands of fans had lined up before dawn to welcome the team back from Qatar.
The players were beaming as they stepped off their plane in Ezeiza, outside the Argentine capital shortly before 3am to a red carpet.
Messi was the first out, carrying the World Cup trophy, flanked by coach Lionel Scaloni. The latter put his arm around the captain as they walked past a sign that read ‘Thank you, champions’.
The team was welcomed by the rock group La Mosca who sang Muchachos, a song written by a fan and became an unofficial popular anthem for Argentinian fans during the World Cup in Qatar.
Several players, including Messi, were seen singing the lyrics to Muchachos as they boarded the bus that took them to FAF headquarters.
“Leo” and his Cup
Throughout the trip, Messi held the World Cup as the players greeted the fans and often sang with them. The bus took an hour to cover the 11 kilometers from the airport to the FAF headquarters, where the players were greeted by fireworks.
The players slept in the premises of the FAF before the day of celebration. In the morning, Messi posted a picture on social media showing him hugging the World Cup trophy next to him as he slept.
Prior to the team’s arrival, many had watched closely as the flight took the players home to celebrate. As the plane closed in on Argentine soil, nearly 200,000 people followed its path online and news channels covered the arrival live.
Several players posted photos of the plane trip on social media. In one, Nicolás Tagliafico posted an image of the World Cup trophy strapped to an airplane seat as if it were just a passenger.
Until now, it was not expected that President Fernández, or any other political leader, would take part in the celebrations, despite earlier rumors that the players would go to the seat of government, according to the Minister of Security, Aníbal Fernandez.
Argentina’s president retweeted several congratulatory messages on the World Cup victory from other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Thank you for that greeting, President Putin,” Fernández wrote on Twitter after a phone call with the Russian leader. “Let the happiness that unites Argentina today with so many countries of the world serve as an example: our societies need unity and peace. »