Europe 1 with AFP 6:06 p.m., December 20, 2022

Buenos Aires was nothing but a party on Tuesday, gigantic, disproportionate, its avenues in the center swollen with hundreds of thousands of people, to commune with its world champions who returned in the night, for a victory parade which promised to be incandescent .

The bus of the Argentine world champions began its victory parade on Tuesday from the headquarters of the Argentine Federation (AFA) to Buenos Aires where hundreds of thousands of people waited for it, starting point of an extraordinary day of celebration. .

The bus left the AFA complex, 32 km from the heart of the capital, at 11.45 a.m. (local time) and reached the Obelisk, the focal point of the celebrations.

From everywhere, from the suburbs of the capital, from the provinces, from Rosario 300 km away, they came, sometimes left in the middle of the night, taking advantage of a day declared a public holiday to come and share the intoxication of the 3rd world title, and invaded the capital in the early hours of the morning.

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"Muchaaachos... ahora ganamos la tercera ("now we have won the third" from time to time, the song that has become the unofficial anthem of the Argentine hinchas resounded along the main avenues, closed to traffic, and in the metro. Alternating with the national anthem, more than ever about "Coronados de gloria" (Crowned with glory) and an inexhaustible repertoire.

Nearly four hours before the scheduled arrival of the players' bus at the Obelisk, there were already tens of thousands, probably more, an ocean of sky and white Albiceleste jerseys.

25 degrees at 9 a.m., the day promised to be hot.

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Just see "them"

Their goal ?

Celebrate, commune, just see "them".

"Just being able to watch them pass is a lot! Just if Messi looks us in the eyes for a moment when I'm filming for me, that's good!"

declared, hilarious, Nicolas, 19, came to the Obelisk with a dozen friends.

They had been more than a million, according to the municipality, until late on Sunday night to celebrate the victory against France (3-3, 4 tab to 2).

This figure should be exceeded without difficulty on Tuesday.

On the night, Leo Messi, legendary player and captain, was the first to appear on the plane's bridge at around 2:30 a.m. (local time), holding up the golden World Cup trophy, to win the red carpet rolled out on the tarmac of Ezeiza business airport.

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"One team, one country, one dream"

The sky blue and white Airbus A330 of the Aerolineas Argentinas company bore the inscription "one team, one country, one dream" and on its rear wing are the drawings of Messi, Rodrigo de Paul, or Angel di Maria, the other hero of the final, author of the 2nd goal against France.

The players immediately boarded a white double-decker bus, flocked with 3 stars and the "campeon del mundo (world champion, editor's note)", for a few hours of rest at the nearby training center of the Argentine Federation of football (AFA).

Cheered by several thousand supporters, who had been camping for hours, eager to be the first to salute the heroes.

From the afternoon, in groups, in families, with tents, camping chairs, parillas, drums - and of course balloons - they posted themselves on the broad shaded sides of the journey of about ten kilometers between the airport and the AFA.

"I am here because of the passion for Argentina," said Alejandra Diaz, 55, who had waited overnight for the Albiceleste near the AFA.

"It's a huge emotion that's hard to explain (to be a football fan in Argentina). Your heart races. I think it's the only country that lives (football) this way, with this madness , this joy, and this happiness".

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Messi says 'hello' to you

Many police officers were provided to ensure a fast route, diversions to allow smooth access to the city center of the bus, which was to leave around 12:00 p.m. from the AFA to reach the Obelisk about 30 km away.

In 2021, upon returning from the victorious Copa America campaign in Brazil, the bus had taken four hours to cover ten kilometers.

"Buen dia" (Good morning) posted Lionel Messi on his Instagram account, along with a photo of him sleeping with the World Cup in his arms.

The climax of the day was expected at the beginning of the afternoon, around the Obelisk, on the route of a large loop of 7 kilometers that the bus of the now Argentinian "tri-campeones" was to take, by the wide city ​​avenues.

A last minute change of route was not excluded, because taking Avenue 9 de Julio, one of the widest in the world (140 m) seemed a priori mission impossible, given the compact crowd.

But except, surprise, not by the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, which was not on the initial route.

After the last world title, in 1986, Diego Maradona appeared on the presidential balcony with the trophy, alongside President Raul Alfonsin.

An image that remains in the memories.