Fans across Argentina gathered around the waving the national flag and raised posters of their hero Lionel Messi after their team’s epic FIFA World Cup final win. The team emerged victorious after defeating the defending champions France on Sunday. It was the country’s third World Cup title, and the first since 1986.

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Fans could be seen singing, dancing on the streets

Swathes of crowds erupted in Argentina’s Buenos Aires after the national football team ‘La Albiceleste’ clinched the World Cup in a penalty shootout 4-2.

It was an emotional start to a boisterous early-summer celebration — horns honking, strangers hugging, and yes, crying.

Fans draped in Argentina’s blue and white colors could be seen singing, dancing and waving the national flag as they gathered around the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires 🤯🏆🇦🇷 #Argentina
pic.twitter.com/RaPCkwy96L

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 19, 2022

Throughout the match, many watching in a public square in Buenos Aires chanted the name of captain Lionel Messi, largely considered the world’s greatest football player who had long talked about how he yearned for a World Cup victory.

Obelisk has acted as an unofficial meeting point for millions of football fans in Argentina. Recently, fans had also come out in numbers to celebrate their national team’s 3-0 victory over Croatia to reach the World Cup final.

The Golden Ball award  

Meanwhile, Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament. He also became the first player in World Cup history to score goals in the group stage, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

The victory has also come as a respite for Messi who is playing in his last World Cup. Messi has chased five World Cups ever since his debut in 2006 to finally clinch the title in this edition.

EPA-EFE

Significance of the epic win

After 36 long years, Argentina finally won a World Cup title, erasing years of doubts and questions about whether a country known for having some of the world’s greatest soccer players could really perform on an international stage. The country won its first title in 1978, but lost finals in 1930, 1990 and 2014.

At the end of the first half, many were gearing up to celebrate as Argentina led 2-0 and clearly dominated the match.

But that early happiness turned to anxiety as France caught up, ultimately leaving the score at 3-3 before Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties.

EPA-EFE

For many, the agonising feelings of the roller-coaster match made the victory all the more sweeter.

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