Argentina’s World Cup winners were greeted with a heroes’ welcome as they arrived back in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Captain Lionel Messi was the first off the plane at around 4am local time and he held the World Cup trophy aloft before leading the squad straight onto an open-top bus.
The players were met by tens of thousands of fans lining the streets, who followed them all the way from the airport to Argentina’s nearby training base in Ezeiza.
Despite the early hour in the morning, fireworks were set off and confetti was fired into the air as Argentina arrived at their training base.
The squad will have a quick turnaround at their base before heading out at midday for the official celebrations in Buenos Aires, which will take place at the Obelisk in the middle of the capital centre.
That is the traditional location for celebrations in the capital and fans have been camped there since Monday in preparation for the team’s return.
Tuesday has been declared a national holiday for all of Argentina, with the government saying it is so that everyone “can express their deepest joy for the national team”.
QUE UN ÁRBOL NO TE IMPIDA FESTEJAR 🌳🤣
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En medio de la caravana de la #SelecciónArgentina, parte de la delegación se topó con un insólito imprevisto que les demoró el paso. pic.twitter.com/vFzncwu8Lb
Argentina had a long flight back from Qatar and they were delayed leaving Doha due to the final going to extra-time and penalties.
In the end they did not leave until around 10am local time, stopping off in Rome as part of their journey home.
“I want to be in Argentina to see how crazy it is,” Messi said before leaving Qatar on Monday. “I want them to wait for me, I can’t wait to go there and enjoy it with them.”
FIDEO CON LA TERCERA 😄🏆
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) December 20, 2022
Di María también levantó la #CopadelMundo en el marco de la caravana de jugadores e hinchas hacia el predio de #Ezeiza. #TyCSportsMundial pic.twitter.com/hQxNOzOgGt
The entire journey took around 22 hours, but the Argentina players passed the time by partying on the plane.
Striker Lautaro Martinez brought a drum on board and banged it repeatedly while players and staff sang songs.
The team also had fun taking photos with the World Cup trophy, posing with blue sunglasses and sleeping next to it while it was fastened into a seat.
