ROSARIO, Argentina (AP) 鈥 The streets of Lionel Messi鈥檚 hometown of Rosario erupted in celebration on Sunday after Argentina beat France to win its third World Cup title.
鈥淲e鈥檙e champions, which is all we wanted, more than anything for (Messi) and for the whole team,鈥 Santiago Ferraris, 25, said.
Argentina鈥檚 three goals in the 3-3 draw were scored by Rosario natives, with Messi, who came up from local team Newell鈥檚 Old Boys, scoring two and Angel Di Maria, who once played in rival local team Rosario Central, one.
Rosario, just like the rest of the country, was paralyzed during the nail-biting match that ended in a penalty shootout, which Argentina won 4-2.
Tens of thousands of people descended on the 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Flag Memorial, the symbol of Argentina鈥檚 third-largest city, to celebrate Argentina鈥檚 victory. People started arriving as soon as Messi lifted the international trophy and were still there well into the evening.
The local soccer rivalry between Central and Newell鈥檚 was set aside Sunday as seemingly the entire city celebrated the national team鈥檚 victory.
鈥淚t鈥檚 madness. It surpassed my expectations with so many people on the same wavelength, everyone celebrating. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 most beautiful about today,鈥 said Jeremias Regolo, 26, who joined the celebrations at the 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Flag Memorial.
Micaela Junco, 28, said the victory felt special to her because it was the first World Cup title in her lifetime. The last time Argentina won the tournament was in 1986.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible feeling for Argentina to win, for all of us to be pulling in the same direction," Junco said. "Being the best in the world is priceless.鈥
Junco felt 鈥減roud鈥 of the key roles Di Maria and Messi played in the match 鈥渂ecause they are from Rosario. We have the best players here in Rosario.鈥
Fans also took from how the triumph gave the country a respite from its usual worries at a time when it is suffering one of the world鈥檚 highest inflation rates, of almost 100 percent annually.
鈥淎rgentina deserved this happiness, beyond everything bad that is happening in the country,鈥 Rodrigo Medina, 21, said. 鈥淭he Rosario boys have always shown they鈥檙e up to the challenge.鈥
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