Celebration in Qatar is mostly migrant Messi fans

An hour before the final of the World Cup in Qatar, the promenade of Lusail, around the stadium, was like any other day on the eve of important World Cup matches. Busy but not crowded. About seven hours later, however, the scenario was different. A crowd gathered on the 1.3 km long boulevard as they waited for champion Argentina.

There was no division between youth, adults and children. Not even nationality. Argentines seemed to be in the minority. Saudis, Bengalis, Indians and Nepalese marked a strong presence.

Everyone piled up while trying to get as close as possible to the place where the selection that had just snapped up the third championship passed. Even Maradona, omnipresent in every demonstration involving Argentina, this time was more timid. God was Lionel Messi.

The number 10 shirt and the rest of the team made a quick trip along the boulevard, on top of a truck similar to a sound car. The athletes waved to the group that surrounded them in the streets.

The vehicle was going at a higher speed than usual for this type of parade. Those who were standing still to watch the players barely had enough time to identify who was who, nor enough space to run after.

Hours before the team arrived, the fans were already crowding the edge of the center of the promenade, waiting for the cup, the team and Messi.

Flags of Argentina adorned the environment, but did not take over the space as if they were in an Argentinean fans’ stands. Most were onlookers, who wore, at most, scarves bought from street vendors around the stadium.

However, they risked climbing on structures such as lighthouses, garbage and lights, all to ensure a better view of the stars who were passing by. The cell phones, always ready, tried to capture the best records of the players.

Saudi Saleh Abdullah, 23, was on the boulevard to watch Argentina pass by. Saudi Arabia and the South American team faced each other in the opening match of the World Cup. It was the three champions’ only defeat.

“Today is the best day of my life”, says the Saudi, who supported the Argentines even in the duel against Arabia – to the anger of his parents, who helped him pay for the trip to Qatar.

Among the Argentine fans, the tone that cradled the celebration was one of those who, after a tight game and a 36-year fast for the title, managed to breathe.

Messi opened the scoring and Di Maria gave France a 2-0 lead. Everything looked peaceful, but Mbappé equalized. In overtime, Messi again gave the Argentines the advantage, and the Frenchman, his teammate Paris Saint Germain, again spoiled his party. Tie again.

The historic final ended on penalties, with the stars finishing with assertiveness, but the Alviceleste team in advantage. Messi and Argentina are crowned champions.

Even with the celebration over, the fans refused to leave the arena. As long as there was any sign of Argentine players on the field, whether celebrating with their cronies or family members, the fans would stick around.

With much of the stadium practically empty, fans dressed in blue and white still occupied the stands. They descended little by little to leave, many heading for the boulevard with the intention of seeing the winning team up close with the cup for the first time.

For Santiago Bruneti, 29, watching Messi’s Argentina win was indescribable. He doesn’t see the number 10 as a natural replacement for Maradona, although many put the country’s historic idol in the shadow of the number 10 — at least until now.

For Bruneti, Messi has his own story. “He’s a good person, he’s a good player, he’s humble,” he says.

There were few seconds in which the Argentine managed to see the team pass by the boardwalk, which was soon taken over by music and fireworks.

“Messi, Messi”, in various accents, shouted the audience.

It was the happy ending of the love story between the Argentine fans and Qatar.