“Men”
The celebration in Qatar was more than a victory on the field. Thousands of voices joined in a chorus that celebrated a team’s dream turned real. Argentina lifted the World Cup on home soil, defeating Panama 2-0, a match that became a backdrop for the moment when Lionel Messi could score his 800th goal. The real spectacle wasn’t just the score but the fever before the party began. River Plate stadium hosted a night watched by about 80,000 fans, while nearly 1.4 million more hoped to secure tickets. The scene blended music, dance, fireworks, and a victory tour with families of players, anchored by the words of captain Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni.
In Argentina, it is not a common ritual for players to take the microphone and address the stadium after a championship win. This tradition grew from the Barcelona triumph and has now become part of the national story with the World Cup on their shoulders. Messi admitted the moment left him briefly speechless as the crowd roared, lifting him and the team in gratitude for keeping a promise made before departing for Qatar.
“I’ve always dreamed of this moment,” Messi said, viewed by many as a hero who set aside old grudges. The newspaper La Nación captured the sentiment, noting how distrust and harsh commentary faded into admiration. The triumph was not just about Messi; it honored every member of the squad that pursued the goal together, including teammates who had traded close failures for a shared victory. The crowd honored the entire team, including Mascherano and Higuaín as players who stood with Messi during the celebration. The fans’ applause echoed the unity of a nation.
Scaloni’s tears reflected a transformation that many now compare to a cinematic arc. From skepticism to veneration, his leadership earned him the nickname La Scaloneta, a chant the fans began and the players echoed. The coach remarked that witnessing such support was priceless. Like the players, he received a World Cup trophy as a symbol of the journey.
“Men”
“I can’t tell you because you wouldn’t understand the finals we lost. How many years I cried for him.” The players entered the field to the anthem Muchachos, with a powerful soundtrack underscoring the moment. No fan was left out, and even the players joined in as the celebration unfolded.
The championship meeting with the Argentine fans extended the festivities, peaking when the match with France concluded. Messi’s aura grew as he saw a country inspired by the World Cup, an achievement set against an ongoing domestic crisis. Diego Maradona’s name was called as a symbol of past battles and present unity, a reminder of the two stars stitched on the team’s shirts. Men, women, and children wore the emblem proudly, a mark of national identity on that Thursday night.
The national anthem was sung with the reverence of a final, while the star goalkeeper Dibu Martínez let tears mark the moment. Messi, once accused of not singing along, opened his voice to show belonging.
Argentina’s anthem rang out as the three-time world champions celebrated a historic milestone. The moment captured a nation that had waited and believed in its team.
The party, however, carried an emotional sting. About 400 people attended the stadium only to discover their tickets were counterfeit. Scenes of crying children and attempts to force entry added a layer of drama to the night. Scaloni expressed a wish to play in every city and thank the fans repeatedly, a longing to travel the country and repeat the celebration. Yet only one version existed that night, and a small portion of Argentines watched it from home. Dibu Martínez admitted he wanted 120 tickets for his whole family, a sentiment echoed by others in the squad and leadership.
While the Panama match served mainly as a ceremonial finale, the weight of global idolization for Messi loomed large. After the final whistle, Central American players lined up to get Messi’s autograph on jerseys or pose for photographs, a moment highlighting the athlete’s universal appeal.