A week after settling in Qatar, the Albiceleste players celebrated as a family before returning to their club duties.
Argentina’s football year closed on a high note, with the national team lifting its third World Cup crown after 36 years of waiting. The triumph in Qatar echoed through every home during the holidays, especially at the tables of the players summoned by coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad.
The World Cup schedule in 2022 brought Christmas and New Year celebrations into one grand moment. Even as European leagues prepared to resume after the tournament break, the world champions enjoyed a rare extended vacation, allowing many to spend Christmas Eve in Argentina. Most planned to stay through December 31, sharing in domestic festivities before resuming club duties.
Looking ahead to 2023, Lisandro Martínez was among the first to head back to work, with Manchester United set to return to Premier League action on December 27. Manager Erik ten Hag acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that Martínez would soon rejoin the squad after his holiday in Gualeguay, Entre Ríos, where he would reconnect with his Dutch-born coach. The rest of the squad largely enjoyed vacations in Argentina, with only a handful traveling abroad during the holiday period.
Among the 26 players, most remained in the country, with Franco Armani the notable exception, traveling to Medellín to be with his wife’s family. The group’s time off varied, with some players returning to their clubs in early January and others staying longer to reconnect with loved ones before the season resumes.
HOW THE ARGENTINE SELECTION SPENT CHRISTMAS
- Captain Lionel Messi spent the holidays near Rosario, in a home setting outside the city, surrounded by close friends, including his longtime companion Luis Suárez.
- Ángel Di María enjoyed a festive Christmas in Rosario with his family, a dinner decorated with World Cup imagery and a live band performing the hit Muchachos.
- Dibu Martínez celebrated with family in Mar del Plata. For the photos, he wore a playful outfit before settling into casual wear for the rest of the celebration.
- Enzo Fernández kept a playful promise by dyeing his hair platinum to celebrate the title, while DJ Fer Palacio added energy to the party at his home.
- Julián Álvarez celebrated Christmas in Córdoba with his friend Lucas Beltrán, a teammate from their River Plate days in the youth and reserve divisions.
- Rodrigo De Paul enjoyed a quiet Christmas Eve at his mother’s house, spending time with his two children and other relatives.
- Marcos Acuña marked the holiday with two fellow former national teammates: Erik Lamela, his Sevilla teammate, and Rodrigo Battaglia, who played with him at Sporting Lisbon.
- Nicolás Otamendi started Christmas Eve with family and friends, including Tobías Medrano of La T y La M, in a celebratory mood.
- Alexis Mac Allister hosted his birthday celebration on December 24 in La Pampa, inviting notable figures including Sergio Batista, a World Cup winner from 1986, to mark his 24th year.
The celebrations reflected a mix of family warmth and national pride, as the World Cup victory resonated across generations and regions, reinforcing the sense of unity within Argentine football during the holiday period.