Lionel Messi and Argentina returned as heroes as they were greeted by thousands of fans at Ezeiza International Airport after landing in Buenos Aires following their stunning World Cup triumph.
Argentina led twice through goals from Messi and Angel Di Maria, but with just minutes left in extra time, France won a penalty – which Kylian Mbappe duly dispatched to take the final to a shootout that saw Emiliano Martinez’s brilliance in the goal saw the Argentines emerge victorious on Sunday.
The national team and the World Cup trophy, which they lifted for a third time on Sunday, landed back in Argentina in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a flight of about 21 hours.
Argentina won the third World Cup in their history with a 4-2 victory on penalties against France
The flight – with the World Cup trophy in tow and departing at 5 a.m. Argentina time – refueled in the Italian capital Rome before flying on to Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires.
In total, there were two aircraft for the entourage of the champions, including players, coaches, staff and family members.
After landing, the cheering players are expected to show off the trophy to their adoring fans, including at the iconic Obelisk landmark in the center of the Argentine capital.
A bus with the text ‘Champions of the World’ stood on the tarmac ready to transport the players
Argentina will parade through Buenos Aires to the Obelisk with the trophy on Tuesday
Fans in the Argentine capital poured into the streets as they waited for their national heroes to return.
Despite the flight’s late arrival, many stayed up to gather outside the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association to greet the team.
They created a party atmosphere, played drums and sang as they continued to celebrate their country’s triumph on the biggest football stage.
Many donned the national team jersey, especially Messi’s number 10, to welcome the players home.
Flags were draped and hung from every possible object, including vehicles, while a giant replica of the Jules Rimet trophy hung from a crane.
Some supporters were even spotted atop horses waving the national flag, with the World Cup replica trophy hanging in front of them.
Despite the late arrival, many stayed up to gather at the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association
They created a party atmosphere, played drums and sang as they continued to celebrate
Fans flocked the streets in national team jerseys as they waited for their heroes to return
Argentinean flags were draped and hung from every possible object, including vehicles
A giant replica of the World Cup trophy hung from a crane over a street
Some supporters were even seen on horseback waving the national flag
A supporter drove down the street and passed under the hanging replica of the trophy
While the supporters at home were getting ready to celebrate with the team, the players on the flight home had already kickstarted the party.
In a post on defender Nicolas Tagliafico’s Instagram page, video footage showed the Albiceleste gleefully singing rewritten lyrics to their now-famous ‘Muchachos’ anthem, complete with a drum and cymbal to make a lot of noise.
The song’s lyrics read: ‘The final with Germany, I cried for 8 years, but that’s over. Why this year in Qatar, the final with the French, Dad won it again.
‘Guys! Now all that remains is to celebrate, we have already won the third, we are already world champions! And we tell Diego to rest in peace, by Don Diego and La Tota, for all eternity.’
Argentina’s World Cup winners rewrote the lyrics to their national anthem ‘Muchachos’ – with drums and a cymbal – on a plane from Qatar as thousands of fans await them in Buenos Aires
Stars like Lionel Messi (left) and Angel Di Maria (right) posed with the trophy on the plane
Stars like Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez happily posed with their precious golden passenger.
Messi’s post on the social media site Instagram has already been viewed more than 18 million times since posting.
His post of 10 photos from the immediate aftermath of Argentina’s World Cup triumph has garnered more than 50 million likes and counting, making it the second most liked post in Instagram history and the most liked post of all athletes.
Fernandez also said, “GOOD MORNING. This way we ALL celebrate TOGETHER.”
Central midfielder Enzo Fernandez (above) also kissed the trophy in front of his country’s flag
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (pictured), a hero in the shoot-out, happily took the trophy in his arms
Argentina triumphed by winning 4–2 on penalties, adding to the victories of 1978 and 1986.
Chaos reigned everywhere as the Argentina players took off in different directions after the winning penalty before all reuniting to kick off the greatest party of all time on the pitch with friends and family.
Celebrations were then taken to the privacy of their dressing room, although the contents were released by several figures present.
Evoking the spirit of 1986 – not just by the way he, like Diego Maradona 36 years ago, sometimes carried the team – Messi was held aloft on the shoulders of several individuals and paraded down the pitch holding the trophy where he most desired.
Lionel Messi held aloft with the trophy – echoing Diego Maradona’s 1986 footage
Messi being held aloft evoked strong memories of Diego Maradona in the exact same position 36 years ago
Messi won football’s biggest trophy in a night of drama in Qatar, matching Maradona’s achievements and securing his place alongside the late legend in the pantheon of true Argentine greats.
While Messi enjoyed the admiration of those who held him in the air, three of his teammates took it upon themselves to scramble atop one of the goal frames.
Leandro Parades, Rodrigo De Paul and Paulo Dybala sat on top of one of the slats as they soaked up the atmosphere before the overcrowded Argentinian end.
Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul and Paulo Dybala climbed on top of one of the goal frames
The three players led the masses of Argentine support behind that particular goal in song
The photo showed them appearing to be directing the chants from the goal frame – though it had just been removed, perhaps as a souvenir for the team to take back to Buenos Aires. De Paul appeared to have part of it draped around his neck.
Argentina’s supporters within the ground far outnumbered France’s supporters, with thousands of Argentines traveling to Qatar for the tournament.
They led the raucous chants as the players laughed, danced and played with their children on the pitch as the World Cup circus began to relax before their very eyes.