Subscribe

Inside Buenos Aires’ World Cup celebrations after thrilling Argentina win over France

They screamed, they cried. And for once, Argentines struggling with a punishing economic crisis felt joy as Lionel Messi led his side to World Cup glory against France.

Kejal Vyas
less than 2 min read
December 19, 2022 - 7:21AM
Argentina’s national team brought the country much needed joy at the World Cup. Picture: Muhammed Emin Canik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Argentina’s national team brought the country much needed joy at the World Cup. Picture: Muhammed Emin Canik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

From parks to packed bars to people’s homes, Argentines celebrated wildly as the national team led by Lionel Messi beat France in a penalty shootout in the World Cup, giving a much-needed lift to a country traversing a painful economic crisis.

Dust filled the air as fans jumped up and down in parks outfitted with jumbotrons in the nation’s capital. Fans outfitted in the team’s blue-and-white jerseys embraced each other and cried tears of joy after a tense finish. In parks and city streets, they sprayed foam out of aerosol cans, waved the national flag and chanted, “Messi’s bringing home the World Cup,” as the last penalty hit the back of the net.

There was jubilation on the streets of Buenos Aires. Picture: Muhammed Emin Canik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
There was jubilation on the streets of Buenos Aires. Picture: Muhammed Emin Canik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

“My whole life changes with this,” said 34-year-old Francisco Casanova, who had his face painted in the blue and white of La Selección, as the team is known, and carried his son Luigi on his shoulders.

They wept, wide smiles on their faces as their heroes outlasted Les Bleus in what will go down as one of the greatest World Cup finals. “It’s the first time I see my country become world champions,” said Mr. Casanova.

The team captain, Messi, led Argentina to its first title since 1986. And Argentina became only the fourth country to win at least three World Cup finals. But just as important to fans was that Messi, the star who at 35 years old likely played his last World Cup, won his first after four previous tournaments.

Now, like Diego Maradona, the late Argentine striker who led the team to the country’s last World Cup victory, Messi has global football’s most important trophy. Here, some are now calling him the greatest of all time.

Silvana Pucchi, a 49-year-old building maintenance worker, carried her small dog—both wearing Argentine team jerseys—to the Plaza Seeber to watch their team. She said the long-suffering country deserved the victory.

“The whole team is blessed by Maradona, who is watching us from above,” she said. “We have the luck of having all of these idols: Maradona, Messi. The whole team is blessed by Maradona.”

– Silvina Frydlewsky contributed to this article.

– Wall Street Journal

More related stories