Lionel Messi was caught joining in with chants mocking France and Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe as Argentina celebrated their World Cup triumph on Thursday.
In December, Messi achieved his life’s dream when he became the first Argentine to lift the World Cup trophy since Diego Maradona in 1986.
The celebrations that greeted him and his Argentina teammates in Buenos Aires when they returned from Qatar were wild.
Understandably to celebrate their incredible achievement for as long as possible, they did it all again when La Albiceleste played their first match on home soil since becoming world champions.
Argentina beat Panama 2-0 on Thursday evening, with Messi capping a special evening with a stunning free-kick late in the game.
A party atmosphere took hold of Buenos Aires in the days leading up to the match, with Messi mobbed as he left a restaurant with his family on Tuesday night.
Tickets for Thursday’s match sold out almost instantly, but those lucky enough to be inside El Monumental created a special atmosphere.
Many of the Argentina players were reduced to tears by the reception they received when they walked out of the tunnel, and the party continued after full-time.
Grabbing the microphone as he did after the World Cup final, Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez led his teammates and thousands of supporters in a rendition of a chant that mocks defeated finalists France.
The chant includes the line: “A minute’s silence for France… they are dead.”
Several French players – including Messi’s PSG teammate Mbappe – angered Argentina fans before the World Cup by playing down their chances of victory.
Lionel Messi & co singing last night: “A minute of silence for… France, they are dead.” pic.twitter.com/NvVtscmp1X
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 24, 2023
After the final, Mbappe was the subject of several chants. During Argentina’s trophy parade through Buenos Aires, goalkeeper Emi Martinez cradled a doll with Mbappe’s face on it. One supporter hung an effigy with the Frenchman’s face on it.
After Thursday’s match, Messi told supporters:
“I want to thank you all for the love and recognition that you have been receiving, not only after the World Cup but also for the Copa America.
“We said that we were going to give it all for this trophy.”
Manager Lionel Scaloni, whose team has been dubbed ‘La Scaloneta’, said:
“Eternal gratitude to these players.
“Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn’t have won the World Cup.
“Everyone who wears this shirt gives their all and sometimes the results don’t come. But this time we got it and it’s incredible.”
Messi was booed by PSG ultras during the French side’s final match before the international break. We wonder what kind of reception he’ll get next time he walks out at the Parc de Princes…
