Argentinian fans celebrated the night away after their side won the World Cup in what some commentators described as one of the best matches in the tournament’s history.
the the team beat defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after drawing 3-3 after extra time in front of a crowd of 88,000 people in Qatar.
Fans who had traveled to the Middle East cheered as the players were taken by open-top bus through the streets outside Lusail Stadium.
In the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, hundreds of thousands of people celebrated their team’s first world championship since 1986.
It was a rare moment of joy for a country struggling with high inflation and an economic crisis that has plunged some 40% of the population into poverty.
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Jubilant scenes in Argentina
Argentina supporter Rogelio Vazquez said: “We could have won comfortably, but we were forced to suffer, as always.
“But suffering makes victory all the sweeter.”
Another fan, Diego Aburgeily, 46, said: “This team has made people fall in love with them for the first time in decades.”
The star of the match was the Argentine captain Lionel Messiwho scored twice at the Lusail stadium, and was crowned player of the tournament.
The sweet victory of Lionel Messi
Messi, 35, later quashed rumors that he could be set to retire from the sport, telling Argentinian television: “I want to continue living a few more games as a world champion.
“I knew God would bring me this gift, I had a feeling this World Cup was the one.
“It took so long, but that’s it. We suffered a lot, but we managed to do it.
“I can’t wait to be in Argentina to witness the madness of it all.”
But he wasn’t the tournament’s top scorer – that honor belonged to Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, which earned him the Golden Boot.
After the match, several British sports commentators said the final would go down in history as one of the greatest football matches of all time.
Jamie Carragher tweeted: “One of the best games ever!”
Alan Shearer said: “We’re breathless here. It was just an amazing final. It was great to be here, a pleasure to be here.
“I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like it again. It was stunning.”
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“Tonight is wonderful”
Gary Lineker said: “It has been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for almost two decades.
“Moment after moment of spellbinding and joyful football is breathtaking. It’s a gift from the football gods.”
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Gary Neville said: “Messi should be the center of attention and it’s normal that he won a World Cup.
“It’s like fate was there for him and he contributed a lot during this tournament.”
French President Emmanuel Macron consoles Kylian Mbappé. Photo: AP
For French supporters, there was disappointment, and President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “Congratulations to the French team for their journey and their fighting spirit in this World Cup.
“You have delighted the nation and the fans around the world. Congratulations to Argentina for their victory.”
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The match concluded what had been one of the most contentious World Cups in history – with pre-tournament rows raging over the treatment of migrant workers, LGBT+ rights and the tournament’s move to the winter to avoid the searing heat of summer.
The next World Cup finals will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada – the first time the tournament has been co-hosted since Japan and South Korea in 2002.
