On December 18, 2022, Argentina celebrated their World Cup victory with a chaotic homecoming celebration in Buenos Aires. The open-air bus parade for the team had to be called off due to the massive crowds that had lined the streets of the capital, estimated to be around 4 million people.

Instead, team captain Lionel Messi and his fellow teammates boarded helicopters for an aerial tour of the city. The players were unable to reach their planned destination, the central Obelisk monument, due to the size of the crowd. Tensions flared between fans and riot police as the celebration turned chaotic.

Earlier in the day, Messi broke the record for the most liked Instagram post with 60 million likes for a post celebrating Argentina’s World Cup victory. The Argentine president had declared a national holiday on December 18 so the country could celebrate the team’s win, their first World Cup victory since 1986.

The celebration in Buenos Aires helped to distract from the country’s economic struggles, including one of the highest inflation rates in the world. Despite the chaos, Argentina’s World Cup victory brought a sense of unity and happiness to the nation.

As the helicopters carrying the players flew over key points in Buenos Aires where fans had gathered, they returned to the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association (FA) outside the capital. The FA’s president, Claudio Tapia, blamed law enforcement for the change in plans. “They don’t let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us don’t allow us to move forward,” he said. “A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players. A shame.”

The team had arrived in Argentina in the early hours of December 18 at Ezeiza Airport, where thousands were waiting with banners, flags, and flares to welcome them home. By midday, millions had already congregated in downtown Buenos Aires, with major roads shut down for the parade. People held up banners of Messi and late icon Maradona, played instruments, or climbed lampposts or bus stops.

The Argentine capital was in party mode since the team’s dramatic victory over France in the World Cup final in Qatar. “This is madness, it’s indescribable,” said Brian Andreassi, a fan wearing the team’s jersey. “There are no words.” Victoria Roldán added, “There’s an immense union among all Argentines – unity, happiness. It’s as if you can breathe another air, there’s another energy in the air. My body and heart are about to burst.”