After the canceled World Cup parade in Buenos Aires, superstar Lionel Messi was also enthusiastically received in his hometown of Rosario.
There, too, the soccer world champion had problems getting past the crowded fans to his house, as television pictures showed. The triumphal journey of the Argentine national team in the bus had ended in chaos on Tuesday after around five million fans in the capital had caused incredible scenes.
Messi, Paulo Dybala and Ángel Di María flew home in a private jet on Tuesday evening (local time) after the victory celebrations had ended. According to the sports portal “Olé”, Messi and Di María flew by helicopter to their homes in Funes, where Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo was already waiting in the car. In a Twitter video, Messi can be seen high-fiving with fans behind a barrier on the landing field as his wife’s car slowly pulls up beside him.
On another, many fans at his place of residence cheered loudly singing the arrival of the car with the world champion. The police secured the driveway to the house, where the fans were crowded to the front door.
The parade in Buenos Aires had previously been abruptly stopped: the bus did not make any progress on its way to the obelisk, the iconic symbol of the Argentine capital, because of the millions of fans. Then, when two more fans jumped from a bridge onto the moving bus with the champions and one of them fell into the street, the security authorities stopped the parade.
The players were flown back to the Football Association’s headquarters on the outskirts of town in two Water Police helicopters. Hours later, clashes broke out in Buenos Aires. According to the media, at least eight people were injured. There was criticism of the behavior of the security forces and the lack of organization. President Alberto Fernández had ordered a national holiday for Tuesday so the country could celebrate the victory.
