Millions of people took to the streets of Buenos Aires Tuesday to celebrate Argentina’s World Cup title, disrupting a planned parade route and forcing Lionel Messi and his teammates to abandon an open-top bus to instead fly over the city in helicopters.

The football-crazed country has been overwhelmed with jubilant celebrations since Sunday when Argentina beat France for its third World Cup title, and first in 36 years.

After crowds swarmed the team bus upon arrival at 3am at the airport, the planned trip through the city at midday was interrupted with at least four million people in the streets, according to reports.

A video shared on social media showed a fan dropping from a bridge onto the team bus carrying Messi with another missing the vehicle and falling into the crowd.

Around the same time, Chiqui Tapia, the head of the Football Association, said they were unable to continue by bus and apologised to supporters who turned out early.

Enzo Fernandez, a midfielder on the team, posted a picture of himself in a helicopter with a headset on and a presidential spokeswoman confirmed the players were flying over the crowds since the roads were clogged due to the “explosion of happiness.”

After President Alberto Fernandez decreed a national holiday for the celebrations, wild scenes broadcast on local TV have shown people filling highway bridges, climbing light posts and vehicles while singing and waving shirts and flags in the nation of 46 million.

The poor planning and security failure to protect the team bus is likely to prompt finger-pointing in the aftermath.

The celebration provides a much-needed distraction for Argentines who are struggling with an economic crisis of high inflation, a weakening currency and tight capital controls.

The players have been reluctant to meet government authorities in order to avoid mixing politics with sports.

A visit to the presidential palace was ruled out by the football federation earlier in the day.

When their plane touched down in the early hours of Tuesday at the international airport, Messi didn’t greet Interior Minister Eduardo de Pedro, who was waiting for the team on the tarmac.

Argentina’s political situation is highly polarized and a picture of politicians with Messi, a local hero who is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, could have unexpected consequences ahead of the general elections in October.

The ruling Peronist coalition has seen its approval rating decline as annual inflation accelerates to close to 100 per cent.

https://dailytrust.com/world-cup-messi-evacuated-by-helicopter-after-crowds-swarm-team-bus/

Pic: Lionel Messi and teammates had to abandon an open-top bus to instead fly over the city

It is now as though only Messi won this world cup not the team... All eyes and talks on Messi.

Big name

When you're big you're big abeg.

dawnomike:
It is now as though only Messi won this world cup not the team... All eyes and talks in Messi.

The safety of the GOAT is a priority.

dawnomike:
It is now as though only Messi won this world cup not the team... All eyes and talks on Messi.

In DJ Big N's voice

When you're big, you're big, abeg.

dawnomike:
It is now as though only Messi won this world cup not the team... All eyes and talks on Messi.

All eyes and talk used to be on him when they lost all the previous finals (3 in a row). Should the case now be different now

70.5 million and counting...

And you expect all eyes & talks to not be on him

Indeed! The skill of a man will pave way for him.

Levels

My idollllllloooo....

One man one grace One GOD ......ojoro is too much..They still want put am for dem currency oooo...i pray such grace for my children

The Alsatian Goat

The way Messi thread are hitting the front page these days, be like say Seunn don change sport section mods. Abi dem don realise day Messi na the baba of Pendu.

Hmmm

Nbote:


All eyes and talk used to be on him when they lost all the previous finals (3 in a row). Should the case now be different now

No. Intelligent people

NoNsense

Enough of the Pessi worship.... is he the 1st to win world cup ni?

Someone has won 3, they didn't make noise like this...

2026 is the year for CR7... Amiiiiin

dawnomike:
It is now as though only Messi won this world cup not the team... All eyes and talks on Messi.

if he lost, all insult and name calling na for only Messi

Stale news..NL u can do better

Oyinbo people dey successful o chai

Victoria Amat Curam

pyyxxaro:
The Alsatian Goat

Take this money, go and buy handkerchief

Goat

Else where christiano penaldo made the headline for being rejected by Frankfurt.
And all the teams in champions league.

ALL HAIL KING MESSI THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME AND PENDU SLAYER.

News like this can suffocate an Al-Nasser striker. Pls thread with caution.