Argentina World Cup winners are given heroes’ welcome as thousands line Buenos Aires streets during open top bus parade
ARGENTINIANS lined the streets in their THOUSANDS to welcome home their World Cup-winning team.
Lionel Messi and Co beat France on penalties in Sunday’s final after a thrilling 3-3 draw in one of the all-time great games.
The squad returned to Argentina late on Monday night ahead of Tuesday’s parade.
And the country came out in their droves to create a remarkable spectacle in Buenos Aires as they hailed their triumphant side.
Fans gathered around the Obelisk monument in the centre of the capital city as they waited for the team bus to parade through the streets.
It comes after the players took part in a small procession on Tuesday morning.
But that almost ended in calamitous fashion after a street cable almost wiped out the bus.
Messi and four team-mates, including Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria, ducked under the overhead power cable with seconds to spare as they headed to the Argentine Football Association’s training ground.
The country are celebrating their first World Cup since Diego Maradona led them to glory in 1986.
They are now three-time world champions – having claimed their first title in 1978.
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Many feared captain Messi would retire following the World Cup – win or lose.
However, the 35-year-old has confirmed he intends to keep on playing for his country after a trophy-laden year-and-a-half.
Argentina’s trophy haul started in the summer of 2021, where they won their first Copa America since 1993.
Messi then completed the set with a World Cup – a tournament he scored seven and assisted three in.
He is the second-most decorated player of ALL TIME with 42 trophies, trailing ex-Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves by one.