LIONEL MESSI and his Argentina team-mates were pictures of happiness as they jetted back to Buenos Aires with the World Cup trophy.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar helped guide La Ablisceleste to their third Jules Rimet Trophy on Sunday night with a penalty shootout victory over France – which came after pulsating 3-3 draw.
Messi has seldom let the trophy leave his side in the last few hours, so much so he griped it tightly on Argentina’s flight back to Buenos Aires.
The 35-year-old posted a picture of himself holding the trophy on the plane to his Instagram on Monday afternoon.
And he was inundated with comments from his near 400 million followers, one of whom said: “Let’s go, champ.”
Another said: “The best ever!”
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And another said: “Greatest of all time.”
One remarked: “The best in the world.”
Another chimed in: “The greatest player of all time.”
One said: “The greatest.”
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Another of Messi’s loyal followers said: “Immortalised.”
Messi, eventually, let his team-mates get a shot at holding the trophy at 30,000 feet.
Former and current Manchester United stars Angel Di Maria and Lisandro Martinez also posed with the iconic golden trophy while they soared in the sky.
Aston Villa stopper and extra-time hero Emi Martinez – who made an incredible save to deny the French a last-gasp victory – also posed with the trophy.
An over-the-moon Messi reacted to the historic victory on Instagram a few hours after the thrilling match.
Along with a series of snaps of himself holding the trophy, he wrote: “CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!.
“So many times I dreamed it, so much I wanted it that I still don’t fall, I can’t believe it…
“Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us.
“We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim.
“The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians…
“We did it!!! LET’S GO ARGENTINA DAMN!!!!!
“We’re seeing each other very soon.”
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Messi teased international retirement ahead of Qatar 2022 but has since performed a U-turn, telling TyC Sports: “I am not retiring from the Argentina national team.
“I want to continue playing as a champion.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
