Argentina’s bus parade to celebrate their World Cup success was cut short after chaotic scenes in Buenos Aires.
Millions of fans lined the streets, with Tuesday declared a national holiday in the South American country as fans enjoyed the summer sun for a bus parade that began at noon local time.
However, it was abandoned due to security concerns after a number of fans attempted to jump onto the bus as it passed under a bridge, with footage on social media showing one supporter falling off the back of the vehicle.
The players were taken away by helicopter due to fears over their safety before the bus reached the public square and the Obelisk monument.
“It was impossible to continue on the ground due to the explosion of joy,” tweeted presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti.
“A thousand apologies on behalf of all of the champion players. [Such] a shame,” tweeted Argentine Football Association president Chiqui Tapia.
Not since 1986 and the days of Diego Maradona have Argentina been named the globe’s best footballing nation, with this their third success.
The celebrations have hardly stopped since Gonzalo Montiel’s winning penalty in the dramatic penalty shootout that decided Sunday’s final with France.
While Kylian Mbappe and his team were being given a good reception in Paris on Monday night, the Albiceleste stars were flying home from Qatar via a stopover in Rome.
When they arrived back in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Tuesday morning, they received a rapturous reception and paraded the World Cup to a huge crowd at 4am.
Messi then woke up cuddling the famous trophy before the Argentina squad were back on the bus for the formal parade.
The celebrations centred around the Obelisco that stands 235 feet above Buenos Aires’ Plaza de la Republica, and was built in 1936 to commemorate the founding of the city.
Despite its grand height, a handful of fans were seen hanging out of the top of the spire during the parade, waving Argentina flags.
