Lionel Messi led the celebrations as World Cup champions Argentina enjoyed a night out after meeting for international duty for the first time since lifting the trophy in Qatar.
Argentina beat Panama 2-0 on Thursday in their first match since their dramatic penalty shootout victory over France, in what will go down as one of the greatest World Cup finals in history.
Although Lionel Scaloni’s side returned to action on Wednesday against Curaçao, they have taken advantage of the six-day difference between matches, enjoying a night of partying to continue the World Cup celebrations.
Messi, who scored a brace in the final, posed for a photo with former PSG teammate Ángel Di María, scorer of Argentina’s second goal in a game that ended 3-3 before going to penalties.
The team also took some group photos, with many seen with a drink in hand.
The Argentina players have continued their World Cup celebrations amid what is their first international encounter since lifting the trophy in Qatar
Lionel Messi finally lifted the World Cup for Argentina with his triumph in December
Lionel Messi led the celebrations as the Argentine players enjoyed a party on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Benfica and former Man City defender Nicolás Otamendi shared videos of him, Di María, Paulo Dybala and Cristian Romero dancing, which have since been removed from his Instagram story.
Although the players enjoyed their night out, it didn’t reach the heights of celebration in the days that followed their World Cup triumph.
They partyed all night after winning the competition last December, and millions of fans filled the streets as they paraded through Buenos Aires on their return to Argentina.
Perhaps the most famous image of the bus parade is that of Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez holding a doll with the face of Kylian Mbappe.
The Argentine fans gave the players a hero’s reception once again as thousands packed the Estadio Monumental, the home of River Plate, waving flags, banging drums and singing merrily as they celebrated their World Cup friendly win against Panama. .
Paris Saint-Germain striker Messi, considered one of the greatest players of all time, had previously been criticized by Argentines for not caring enough about his country or for not performing on the biggest stage like the legend Diego did. Maradona.
Argentina returns to action on Wednesday when they take on the Curaçao minnows in a friendly.
Nicolás Otamendi shared now-deleted videos of Argentine players dancing on Sunday night
But all that has changed now, and hundreds of fans reportedly crowded outside a steakhouse in Palermo, Buenos Aires on Monday when they realized Messi was dining inside.
While he left smiling, surrounded by security, the supporters chanted ‘Messi I love you’ and ‘Thank you, Leo’.
Fans had to wait until the 89th minute to see some of Messi’s magic against Panama as he fired a stunning free kick into the top right corner to double Argentina’s lead following Thiago Almada’s opener.
Afterwards, the players joined their loved ones on the pitch to fully enjoy themselves and celebrate their World Cup glory with their fans.
Messi was lifted into the air while photos were taken with replica World Cup trophies.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could not resist a repeat of the stark celebration for which he was so heavily criticized in December.
He and some teammates made a rude gesture with their replica trophies while holding them over their private parts.
Argentina’s players posed with replica World Cup trophies as they played at home for the first time on Thursday since winning the competition after a dramatic penalty shootout victory.
Messi capped off the emotional return home last Thursday with a speech in which he shared that he “dreamed” of celebrating in his home country.
He said: ‘I want to thank you for all the love we have been receiving, not only for being world champions, but also for the Copa América beforehand. We had said that we were going to do everything possible for this.
Personally, I have always dreamed of this moment, to be able to celebrate with you, to come to my country, to Argentina, to lift a Copa América, the Finalísima, and the greatest thing, which is the World Cup.