The Obelisco area, on Avenida 9 de Julio, a traditional venue for soccer celebrations, was overwhelmed by millions of people, which pushed many fans to move towards the nearby Plaza de Mayo, in front of the Casa Rosada, headquarters of the presidency.
“The World Champions are flying over the entire route in helicopters because it became impossible to continue by land due to the explosion of popular joy. Let’s continue celebrating in peace and showing them our love and admiration,” announced Gabriela Cerruti, spokesperson for the Presidency, in her account Twitter.
Almost five million people in the streets, a crowd impossible to measure, managing with love and serenity as a happy people called to a collective ceremony knows how to do. pic.twitter.com/PjrQkp9rDS
— Gabriela Cerruti (@gabicerru)
December 20, 2022
As soon as it was known that they were coming by helicopter, thousands of people who were waiting in the center of Buenos Aires ran to the Plaza de Mayo thinking that they would land there to look out from the balcony of the Casa Rosada, seat of the presidency, as they did in the past. champions of Mexico 1986 and Argentina 1978.
But the tour was finally air only. At the end of the afternoon, Messi and Ángel Di María flew in a private plane to Rosario, their city of origin, together with Paulo Dybala.
Messi and Di María then took a helicopter to the private neighborhood in which they have a house, on the outskirts of Rosario. Dybala continued his trip to Córdoba, his hometown, a photographer from AFP.
Although the people showed a certain disappointment that the players did not enter Buenos Aires, they still continued to celebrate the victory.
“I would have liked it to end differently. What could happen was underestimated,” lamented Román García, a 38-year-old administrative employee.
For a few days, the country forgot its economic woes. “I am very happy. It is very important for our country. Argentina’s victory makes us feel good,” she told the AFP Marta Acosta, 35 years old.
“We have been experiencing a lot of economic crisis for several years, this is an air and a push too. Seeing Argentina win a World Cup when I am so young is a blessing,” he told the AFP Lautaro Rodríguez, 21 years old.