The morning after the night before: Piles of litter and discarded flags coat the streets of Buenos Aires after wild night of World Cup celebrations – as adoring fans prepare to welcome their returning heroes

• After hours of dancing and drinking, Argentinian football fans were still out on the streets of Buenos Aires
• Adoring fans are preparing to welcome their returning heroes in the early hours of Tuesday morning  
• Argentina won their first World Cup since 1986 after beating France in a nail-biting final in Qatar yesterday

After hours of dancing, singing and drinking, Argentinian football fans were still out on the streets of Buenos Aires this morning – but some did look a little worse for wear.

Some football fans spent Monday morning passed out on the litter-strewn streets of the capital, while others still proudly wore their now torn Argentinian flags following their team’s World Cup win. 

The adoring fans are preparing to welcome their returning heroes in the early hours of Tuesday morning after Lionel Messi’s team beat France 4-2 in the penalty shootout to win the World Cup final. 

More than a million Argentinians filled the streets of Buenos Aires last night, with jubilant fans singing and climbing the famous Obelisk monument. 

But this morning, dawn showed piles of litter and discarded flags covering the capital’s streets after the wild night of celebrations. There were still hundreds of fans out onto the streets, with many looking tired but happy. 

Football fans still proudly wore their now torn Argentinian flags following their team’s World Cup win in Buenos Aires on Monday 

Some football fans spent Monday morning passed out on the litter-strewn streets of the capital

A football fan holds an imitation of the World Cup trophy after celebrating through the night Argentina’s victory over France in the final match of the World Cup, in downtown Buenos Aires, on Monday

A football fan, wearing a Maradona football shirt, hoists a dummy of the World Cup trophy after celebrating through the night Argentina’s victory over France in the final match of the World Cup, in downtown Buenos Aires, on Monday

A fan waves a flag at the capital’s Obelisk after celebrating through the night Argentina’s victory over France in Buenos Aires on Monday

The fans are now waiting for the Argentinian players to arrive back in the capital. The players, with the World Cup trophy safely placed on a seat of its own on the plane, are expected to land at dawn on Tuesday morning.

In total there are two planes for the entourage of the champions, including players, coaches, staff and family members. 

And football stars including Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez have been pictured holding the golden trophy during the flight. 

Throughout the match, many Argentinian fans watching in a public square in Buenos Aires chanted the name of Messi, often considered the world’s greatest football player who had long talked about how he yearned for a World Cup victory.

‘I feel an immense happiness in my heart because this is the first World Cup I truly enjoy,’ Hector Quinteros, a 34-year-old security guard, said as his eyes welled up with tears last night. ‘This always happens. They always make us suffer.’

After 36 long years, Argentina finally won a World Cup title, erasing years of doubts and questions about whether a country known for having some of the world’s greatest soccer players could really perform on an international stage. The country won its first title in 1978, but lost finals in 1930, 1990 and 2014.

The fans are now waiting for the Argentinian players to arrive back in the capital. The players, with the World Cup trophy safely placed on a seat of its own on the plane, are expected to land at dawn on Tuesday morning

The World Cup trophy was carefully placed on its own seat on the plane by the Argentinian football players

More than a million Argentines packed the streets of Buenos Aires as their incredible World Cup victory triggered a wild night of celebrations across the country

Fans were ecstatic after a nail-biting victory on penalties in the World Cup final over France made the South Americans world champions for the first time since 1986

At the end of the first half, many were gearing up to celebrate as Argentina led 2-0 and clearly dominated the match.

But that early happiness turned to anxiety as France caught up, ultimately leaving the score at 3-3 before Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties.

For many, the agonising feelings of the match made the victory all the sweeter.

‘When you suffer over something so much, the satisfaction is greater,’ Fabio Villani, a 45-year-old video editor said, noting he still couldn’t quite believe Argentina had won a World Cup title.

It also felt par for the course for Argentina, a country known for its seemingly endless economic crises.

‘Suffering is something that is very Argentine,’ said Maria Isabel Ayala, a 53-year-old hairdresser. ‘If we suffer, it’s because we truly feel it in our hearts.’

Gonzalo Nogueria, a 34-year-old photographer, said that ‘it’s a bit of a downer that we had to spend so much time suffering, but it’s also our way of life a bit,’ adding that ‘in some ways we’re used to it too.’

The national squad led by Messi has managed to unite Argentines with a sense of joy that isn’t frequent in a country that has been stuck in economic doldrums for years, is suffering one of the world’s highest inflation rates and almost four in 10 live in poverty.

‘We’re very happy that they gave us this triumph that the people needed beyond the socioeconomic problems that we’re having,’ Gabriel Fernández, a 42-year-old artisan, said as he celebrated his victory surrounded by his family in a Buenos Aires park.

‘We needed this, we needed this for all the things that we’re going through economically, politically, socially,’ Alberto Czornenki, a 45-year-old retail worker, said as he joined the celebrations in a public square in Argentina’s capital.

‘Our lives are full of suffering due to all that, that karma that we have, and this at least gives us some happiness. We’re then going to wake up to reality and we’re going to be in the same place, but with a different kind of enthusiasm.’

An aerial view of the Obelisk in the Plaza de la República shows the sheer scale of the millions of fans who took to the streets

Pictures show the celebrating fans kissing, crying, and climbing the Obelisk and street lights in the aftermath of the yesterday’s dramatic match

A couple kissed as other football fans pile up to celebrate the World Cup victory last night on the streets of Buenos Aires

Fans couldn’t contain their emotion after the victory. The rise of the team has spurred avid support in Argentina, which is plagued by high inflation and an economic crisis that has pushed some 40% of the population into poverty

Fans pictured climbing street lights as they celebrated winning the World Cup through Buenos Aires

Bearing flags, hats and the country’s iconic blue-and-white jerseys, millions of Argentines took over Buenos Aires’ downtown and other iconic spots within minutes of the win last night.

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Pictures showed the celebrating fans kissing, crying, and climbing the Obelisk and street lights in the aftermath of the yesterday’s dramatic match. 

One clip shows a fan waving the country’s flag from the top of the Obelisk in the Plaza de la República in the city’s centre. The camera then zooms out, revealing the millions of supporters flooding the streets below. 

Across the country, other celebrations broke out.

Fans in the square sat on each other’s shoulders as they watched the fireworks and posted the celebrations on social media

A group of fans hug each other as they support their team, throwing shirts, socks and replicas of the World Cup trophy

Fans let off fireworks in the Plaza de la República after the final match of the World Cup was played in Qatar yesterday

Pictures show the celebrating fans kissing, crying, and climbing the Obelisk and street lights in the aftermath of the yesterday’s dramatic match

Huge crowds surrounded the Obelisco monument in the centre of Buenos Aires, like they had done after the semi-final win over Croatia

Fans of Argentina wave shirts in the air as they look up to the skies after their football team’s stunning victory yesterday

The tense match, which was drawn 3-3 after extra time and eventually won 4-2 on penalties, has made the victory even sweeter for fans

Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after beating France on penalties in Qatar

The final win cements Messi’s status as a legend among Argentines, with Sunday’s match expected to be his last appearance in a World Cup for his country. Pictured: Fans dragging their country’s flag through crowds

The South American team, which lost the final of the tournament against Germany in 2014, had not won a World Cup since 1986

Bearing flags, hats and the country’s iconic blue-and-white jerseys, millions of Argentines took over Buenos Aires’ downtown and other iconic spots within minutes after the win

Argentine players were shown on the Obelisco, while fans let off flares and fireworks in the city centre to celebrate

Some Argentines hung their heads, others prayed, before the final penalty kick from Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel caused the ball to sail neatly into the net.

Shouting, jumping and spraying their drinks into the air, incredulous Argentines erupted in cheers as the team clinched the win. Some, hugging friends and family, were even brought to tears.

‘Dibu (Martinez), Messi, the whole team, I love them,’ said Jonathan Heredia, his voice hoarse from cheering. ‘I feel like they made me cry, I wanted this more than anything.’

Huge crowds surrounded the Obelisco monument in the centre of Buenos Aires, like they had done after the semi-final win over Croatia. Other fans leaned out the side of cars waving flags and jerseys as they rode through the streets.

Messi, 35, scored in the first half and then again in extra time, while Angel Di Maria scored the other for Argentina. Mbappe, 23, scored all three French goals before the shootout.

The final win cements Messi’s status as a legend among Argentines, with Sunday’s match expected to be his last appearance in a World Cup for his country.

‘Holding Leo Messi by the hand, we’re going to go all the way,’ the crowd chanted as euphoria took over. 

Many fans were quick to remember Argentina great Diego Maradona, who died two years ago, saying he had something to do with today’s victory.

‘Diego sees everything from heaven, he wouldn’t have wanted Argentina to lose. The first cup without him and we won! Diego is always here, he’s eternal,’ said Javier López, 18, whose voice broke as he spoke of Maradona, who led the national team to what had been its last World Cup title in 1986.

‘Diego is certainly smiling now,’ Brazil soccer legend Pelé wrote on social media as he congratulated Argentina for the victory.

In Rosario, Messi’s hometown, a sea of people went out into the streets to celebrate that their local hero had finally won a World Cup title.

President Alberto Fernández joined in on the celebrations and thanked the national team for the victory.

‘Thank you to the players and the technical team. They’re an example that we must never give up. That we have great people and a great future,’ Fernández wrote on social media.

An Argentina fan celebrated by waving the country’s flag from the top of the Obelisk, as part of celebrations through the night

Messi stands arms raised as he soaks in the atmosphere in front of the Argentina supporters

Messi and his Argentina teammates joined in the crazy full-time celebrations

Argentina’s fans celebrate the victory of the Argentine national team against France for the World Cup final, in Qatar, on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Argentina fans celebrate in a bar in Barcelona, Spain during the World Cup final

Lionel Messi sent the Lusail stadium into raptures as he finally realised his dream of winning a World Cup, guiding Argentina to glory through a nerve-wracking win in Qatar

Leo Messi is seen on the screen installed in the Intendente Seeber Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 18

Lionel Messi sent the Lusail stadium into raptures as he finally realised his dream of winning a World Cup, guiding Argentina to glory through a nerve-wracking win in Qatar.

Argentinian fans the world over erupted in wild celebrations as their team prevailed, scoring every spot kick while France squandered two of their efforts amid the mind games of Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Earlier Messi had scored a desperate goal in extra time to drag his team back in front of defending champions France – only for Kylian Mbappe to seal a hat-trick and set up a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

The south American fans, who vastly outnumbered their French counterparts in Qatar, were powerless to contain their joy when the final penalty was scored, while the Argentinian players immediately burst into floods of tears as they mobbed their captain Messi.

As soon as the ball hit the back of the net, Argentina players turned and ran to Messi who was stood on the halfway line. He sank to the ground, not under the initial weight of his teammates, but because of the recognition of what had just happened.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the Argentina camp, Messi included, the captain had guided his country to global success in the most difficult of circumstances. They had rose to the occasion, the weight of a nation on Messi’s shoulders, and justifiably his post-match reaction was a pure release of emotion. 

Messi was pictured with close friend and former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero after the match with the pair shown with arms wrapped around each other on the pitch, as the star of the show wiped away his tears.

Earlier Messi had looke devastated with pain etched across his face, head down, shirt pulled over his nose as France had caught up after Argentina’s initial 2-0 victory. 

Hero goal scorer Lionel Messi was projected onto the Obelisk in the centre of Buenos Aires in Argentina, after he played his final World Cup match

Fans sang and shouted on each other’s shoulders as the celebrations went on for hours throughout the night and into the morning

Fans can be seen on the roof of a camper van in Buenos Aires as the city’s skyline is lit up in the background

Revellers also made their way onto the roof of a bus stop, giving each other lifts up to the top

Lionel Messi lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after the final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium

The whole team celebrated as Messi lifted the trophy amid sparklers and celebrations at Qatar’s Lusail stadium

An Argentina fan sits on top of a street light and points towards the camera as other fans cheer him on from the ground

Fans of Argentina gather under a mural of late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona as they celebrate winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup against France in Naples

Fans of the Argentine national team in the city of Buenos Aires supporting their team the day of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final against the France national football team in front of the obelisk of Plaza de la Republica

One fan can be seen celebrating with what looks to be a vuvuzela as others climb up the city’s infrastructure

The ground could not be seen as it was covered by millions of fans, who climbed street lights and infrastructure in Buenos Aires

Pictured: Fans of Argentina and the country’s flag can be seen after supporters celebrated by climbing the Obelisk

The celebrations also rung throughout New York as fans took to Times Square to celebrate their country’s victory

Fans celebrate Argentina’s victory over France in the Qatar 2022 World Cup Final football match, in Bogor, West Java

Flares were also let off in Buenos Aires last night as colours of blue and white clouded the city

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