The World Cup champions of Argentina, led by Lionel Messi as captain, arrived home from Qatar early on Tuesday morning, just in time for a welcome-home celebration in the nation’s capital.
On Tuesday, thousands of supporters showed out at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport to welcome the World Cup-winning Argentina team home.
At the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Sunday, Argentina defeated France on penalties to win their third world championship.
Prior to what is expected to be a day of celebrations, Captain Messi and his teammates were beaming as they exited the plane at Ezeiza International Airport just before 3am.
Messi, who was carrying the World Cup trophy, and manager Lionel Scaloni were the first people to exit the aircraft. Rock band La Mosca welcomed them with the song “Muchachos,” which was written by a fan to the tune of an older song by the band and became a well-liked unofficial anthem for Argentine fans at the World Cup in Qatar.
Several of the newly crowned world champions, including Messi, could be heard singing “Muchachos” before boarding an open-top bus and traveling to the Argentine Football Association’s offices (AFA).
Police struggled to keep spectators away from the bus as they mobbed it on a freeway, many of whom were waving Argentine flags. The bus drove slowly as the fans tried to get a sight of the players.
The athletes will rest for a little while at the AFA headquarters before boarding the bus later on Tuesday to travel to the Obelisk, a famous landmark in Buenos Aires where there was a sea of spectators on Sunday after the team’s victory.
