Argentina has done it: they have beaten France in an agonizing match that was finally decided on penalties and thus won their third World Cup. The Argentinian fans were in the majority in the stadium in Qatar, and the same was true in Barcelona, which was full of sky-blue and white shirts with Leo Messi's number 10 on the back. From close to 10 in the morning, some fans were queuing in bars to watch the final of the World Cup in Qatar, which started at 4pm and, with extra time and penalties, lasted until almost 7pm. The euphoria after Messi's initial goal from the penalty spot put the albicelestes ahead, consolidated by the 2-0 scored by Ángel Di Maria, turned to despair after France's comeback in the last ten minutes of normal time, as the longed-for victory seemed to slip away after Mbappé scored twice. Then the same drama was repeated in extra time, another Messi goal and another Mbappé reply from the penalty spot. So, 3-all and penalty kicks, and finally by the sudden death formula it was victory for the South American side. And at that time the streets of Barcelona exploded as the dream of the albiceleste came true.
10,000 fans celebrate at the Arc de Triomf
The party in the bars moved to the Catalan capital's Arc de Triomf, where around 10,000 fans gathered to celebrate a victory which Argentina has not achieved since 1986, and above all, the final crowning glory for Leo Messi, at last able to be champion of the highest football competition. The chants of "Messi, Messi" were a constant in Barcelona. More than an hour after the match had finished the metro was still full of fans heading to the epicentre of the party.
Fans of all ages filled the Passeig de Lluís Companys from the Arc de Triomf station to the Ciutadella park gate. Some climbed lampposts and lit flares, but it was mostly chanting and good vibrations. The most repeated was Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos a ilusionar (Lads, now we've got excited again), a World Cup rewrite of a song by the Argentine band La Mosca, with references to Diego Maradona, Messi and the Argentine emotion, echoed in Barcelona bars just as it did in the Lusail stadium in Qatar.
Other chants included the classic "Ole ole ole cada dia te quiero mas" along with a whole series of chants and calls venerating Messi, who has surely closed the debate on whether he really is the best player of all time, by leading the national team to win the last major trophy which was lacking in his collection, the World Cup.
The Argentine fans celebrate Messi's goal from the penalty spot, which made it 1-0.
After suffering for more than 120 minutes, Argentina fans celebrate being champions in a bar in Poblenou.
Fans of France's Les bleus were, naturally, also present in Barcelona bars, although in much smaller numbers. In the bar where ElNacional.cat followed the game, those cheering Mbappé's selection numbered less than a hundred, while there were close to 500 Argentina fans.