A gigantic, disproportionate party, avenues black with people… Buenos Aires reserved, on Tuesday, December 20, a historic welcome to the ” tri-champions »returned in the night from Qatar, two days after their victory in the final of the Football World Cup, against France.
At 11:45 a.m. (3:45 p.m. Paris time), the Argentinian players’ bus began its parade in front of the headquarters of the national federation (AFA) and was to reach the Obelisk, located 32 kilometers away, in the heart of the capital. , the focal point of the celebrations. The arrival time is however very uncertain, given the sky and white tide, in the colors of the Albiceleste, which swept through the streets and was already slowing him down, a few minutes after his departure. From everywhere, they came, sometimes in the middle of the night, taking advantage of the holiday decreed for the occasion, in order to share the intoxication of the third world title.
« Guys… Now we win the third [maintenant on a gagné la troisième]. » From time to time, the song, which has become the unofficial anthem of fans Argentinians, resounded along the main avenues, closed to traffic, and in the metro, alternating with the national anthem, more than ever about « Crowned with glory » (“crowned with glory”). At the Obelisk, they were already tens of thousands.
Just see “them”
Their goal ? Celebrate, commune, just see “them”. “Just being able to watch them go by is a lot! Just if Messi looks us in the eyes for a moment when I film, for me it’s good! » declares, hilarious, Nicolas, 19, came with a dozen friends.
They were more than a million, according to the municipality, to celebrate the victory against France (3-3, 4 shots on goal to 2) until late at night from Sunday to Monday. This figure should be exceeded without difficulty on Tuesday. During the night, Leo Messi, legendary player and captain, was the first to appear on the plane’s gangway, around 2:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. in Paris), brandishing the golden trophy, to win the red carpet deployed on the tarmac of Ezeiza business airport.
The sky blue and white Airbus A330 of Aerolineas Argentinas bore the inscription “One team, one country, one dream” and on its wing are the portraits of Messi, Rodrigo de Paul, or Angel di Maria, the other hero of the final, author of the second goal against France.
The WORLD CHAMPION squad ???? will leave Tuesday at noon for the obelisk to celebrate the world title with… https://t.co/cWeAmum8BY
Cheered by several thousand supporters, who had been camping for hours, eager to be the first to salute the heroes, the players immediately boarded a white double-decker bus, adorned with three stars and the inscription ” World Champion “to take a few hours off at the nearby training center of the Argentine Football Federation (AFA).
From the afternoon, in groups, in families, with tents, camping chairs, on pardrums and, of course, balloons, they posted themselves on the broad shaded sides of the course of about ten kilometers between the airport and the AFA.
Every day new crossword puzzles, Sudoku and found words.
Player
“I am here because of the passion for Argentina”said Alejandra Diaz, 55, who had waited overnight for the Albiceleste near the AFA. “It’s an immense emotion that is difficult to explain. Your heart is racing. I think it’s the only country that lives [le football] in this way, with this madness, this joy, and this happiness. »
“A breath of fresh air after so many years of crisis”
” Good day “ (“hello”), posted Lionel Messi on his Instagram account, accompanied by a photo of him sleeping with the World Cup in his arms.
The highlight of the day is expected at the beginning of the afternoon, around the Obelisk, on a large loop of 7 kilometers. A last minute change of route is not excluded, because taking 9 de Julio Avenue, one of the widest in the world (140 meters), seems a priori mission impossible, given the compact crowd.
Except, surprise, it will not pass under the windows of the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace. After the last world title, in 1986, Diego Maradona appeared on the balcony with the trophy, alongside President Raul Alfonsin, an image that is remembered.
This third star for the Albiceleste, after those of the teams of Daniel Passarella (1978) then Diego Maradona (1986), after the lost finals of 1990 and 2014, bears the mark of Messi, seven times Ballon d’Or and on the evening of his career, at 35, named best player in the World Cup. He should return Tuesday evening or Wednesday to Rosario, his hometown, for a new party, a new welcome at the height of his career.
“We will receive Leo in Rosario and we will continue to celebrate him, for months, years…”promises, radiant, Luciano Peralta, a 41-year-old trader, who came to Buenos Aires to share this “indescribable joy, this blessing, this breath of fresh air, after so many years of economic crisis”. “It’s moving, when you love your country, to see it like this…”sums up Cristina Vasquez, 42, a sky and white jersey on her shoulders, moved among soon a million others.
