It’s been just over three months since Lionel Messi he led Argentina to glory in the 2022 World Cup final, but fans in the Paris Saint-Germain star’s home country still flock to pay tribute to their hero whenever he returns.
– Broadcast on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (USA)
Messi needed the help of police to get to his car after being mobbed by supporters outside a restaurant in Buenos Aires on Monday night.
The 35-year-old is back in Argentina ahead of Thursday’s international friendly against Panama, his first since the albiceleste world champion was proclaimed for the third time in Qatar.
Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or as the best player of the tournament after scoring seven goals, including two in the final against France, landed this Monday morning in Buenos Aires with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three children.
The striker trained with his international teammates before going to dinner with his family at a local restaurant, Don Julio, in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Once news spread that Messi was inside, hundreds of fans gathered outside the restaurant hoping to catch a glimpse of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, and they were singing his name outside.
The scenes in Argentina outside a restaurant where Messi dined 🇦🇷
— All about Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 21, 2023
the crowd too burst into a spontaneous rendition of “Muchachos”, which became the unofficial anthem to Argentina’s World Cup success during the tournament.
When Messi goes to dinner at the corner of your house: pic.twitter.com/6VV4nrHPdy
—Andrés Lacouture (@AndresLacouture) March 21, 2023
According The nationMessi did not leave the restaurant until 1:45 a.m., once the police arrived to calm the crowd.
He barely made it through the horde, with some reaching out to touch him or take a selfie. since the star was escorted by police and security to his vehiclebefore making his getaway in a gray Porsche.
Members of the crowd were seen celebrating and hugging after approaching the Argentina captain.
MESSI’S DINNER IS CRAZY: He had to call many more policemen than there were so he could get out and that’s how he had to get in the car: pic.twitter.com/h3XRRxowuo
—Andrés Lacouture (@AndresLacouture) March 21, 2023
Messi faced a similar situation when his car was robbed after returning home to his native Rosario shortly after his World Cup triumph. He had previously participated in a parade in Buenos Aires just after Argentina’s World Cup victory, which had to be interrupted for security reasons.
Thursday’s match at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires sold out quickly after the Argentine Football Association received 1.5 million ticket requests.
Messi is two strikes away from 100 international goals for Argentina, and he has a chance to reach that milestone in the game against Panama on Thursday or against Curacao on Tuesday, March 28 before returning to France to help PSG fight for the title. from Ligue 1.
He is third on the all-time list of top international goalscorers for men behind Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldowho completed his century of goals in September 2020 and already has 118, and the Iranian Ali Daei, who scored 109 before retiring in 2007.
