Lionel Messi is on top of the world. No man, woman or child will experience the adoration that the tiny Argentine is receiving after delivering La Tercera back to the people.
With more than four million people coming out just to see the open-top bus tour with the trophy in Buenos Aires, the total delirium even proved unsafe, with their route being cut short.
Now on their holidays, the squad have dispersed in order to spend time with their families – although it might not exactly be rest and relaxation, giving the clamour just to see their heroes. Angel di Maria and Messi arrived via helicopter back to hometown Rosario, greeted by Rosario Central and Argentina icon Kily Gonzalez.
El gran abrazo entre el Kily González y Messi en su llegada a Rosario ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JsyruyrCwG
— GOAL en español (@Goal_en_espanol) December 21, 2022
He was not the only one who got wind of his arrival. As pointed out by Golazo, he might be spending much of his holidays applying Aftersun.
Messi back in Rosario meeting his public. Quite the day and no surprise to see he looks like he’s caught the sun a bit after hours on the bus 😂
pic.twitter.com/WsRa8vUWyM— GOLAZO (@golazoargentino) December 20, 2022
While most of the scenes of celebration have emerged out of Buenos Aires, the feral ecstasy was present throughout Argentina, as one bus driver in Rosario found out on Sunday night.
🇦🇷 The Argentines partied hard in Lionel Messi's hometown Rosario last night.pic.twitter.com/tJkN1kH8Ps
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) December 19, 2022
Messi arrived to his house at the same speed as the open-top bus was moving, inching through the swathes of people just hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who lifted the Jules Rimet trophy. It might be exhausting, but you can bet Messi wouldn’t swap it for the world.
Así entró Messi a su casa en Funes. pic.twitter.com/LrWuOy2VH7
— Tomás Dvoretzky (@TomasDvoretzky) December 20, 2022