Thousands of Buenos Aires residents took to the streets to celebrate Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup win and drone footage of the mind-blowing scenes was shared on social media.
Lionel Messi leads Argentina to 2022 FIFA World Cup glory
The finale was, perhaps, one of the greatest FIFA World Cup matches ever.
Argentina lost a two-goal lead in the 80th minute, thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbappe.
Messi raised South Americans’ hopes with a netter in the 107th minute but Mbappe’s second penalty earned him a hat-trick and his side drew level at 3 – 3, forcing the game to penalties.
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Argentina, however, were clinical from the spot and won the shootout 4 – 2. Lionel Messi, at 35, won his first FIFA World Cup trophy.
Amid celebrations, questions about Messi’s future in international football lingered. However, the talisman and Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni all but confirmed that the attacker is not yet ready to retire.
Speaking to Argentinian media, Messi made it abundantly clear he had no intention of retiring from playing for his country. The seven-time Ballon D’or winner confirmed he wants to “keep playing in the Argentina jersey as world champions.”
Scaloni, who, for the most part, was emotional during post-match interviews, also shot down speculation about Messi’s retirement. The manager made it clear he has every intention to include the talisman in his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
By then, Messi would be 39 years old.
“We need to save him for the next World Cup – 2026. If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career now,” Scaloni said.
Flight information on Argentina’s trip back home had not been revealed at the time this article was published. Therefore, it remains unknown when Argentina’s World Cup homecoming festivities are likely to take place.
As reported by Sporting News, however, murmurs fluttering close to La Albiceleste’s dressing room suggest the national team could fly back to home as soon as FIFA World Cup festivities wrap up in Qatar.
This, it’s said, is so players can enjoy an extended break with loved ones before heading back to club football action, which resumes in January 2023.
Here is a video clip of the festivities that broke out in Buenos Aires after Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
