Lionel Messi and Argentina's World Cup heroes helicopter away from victory parade due to enormous crowds

The World Cup champions had to cut the Buenos Aires celebration -- with five million fans -- short due to safety concerns

2022 World Cup champions Argentina are back home to celebrate their third global triumph with a victory parade in the streets of Buenos Aires on Tuesday, but it did not go exactly as planned. An estimated five million fans took to the streets of the capital city to welcome in their national heroes on a day the federal government made a national holiday, but it was cut short due to security reasons. 

Videos of fans falling from low overpasses onto the parade bus led to massive security concerns as players were escorted from the parade via helicopter. One fan even hit the bus after falling, before then following to the pavement below, having to be stretchered off and taken to the hospital, according to reports. 

The bus was supposed to make it to the iconic Obelisco monument at the city center, but highways packed with fans did not allow them to make it to the street that it is on, with AFA president Chiqui Tapia apologizing to fans for the detour.

Here's a look at the scenes:

Here's a look at the highway and streets below packed with fans:

The team arrived in the early morning hours at Ezeiza International Airport to live music, an incredible crowd and massive cheers to begin the celebration of the team's first World Cup title since 1986. Lionel Messi was the first off the airplane on Tuesday morning with the World Cup trophy in hand just hours after the Argentines defeated France in penalty kicks in what has gone down as not just the best World Cup final ever but potentially the greatest game the sport has ever seen. 

[Dec 20, 2022 at 2:40 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Choppers have come to get the players

The players have left the parade in choppers as it looks like a safety measure. There are videos of fans jumping off bridges to try and land on the bus and be with the players, even people falling off of the bus and risking serious injury. 

[Dec 20, 2022 at 1:57 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Get to the chopper?

Unconfirmed reports at this moment, but there are helicopters landing nearby to where the Argentina team is, and there is a growing buzz that the players make board the choppers in order to get out of the area as an estimated five million fans are in the streets.

[Dec 20, 2022 at 1:06 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Angel Di Maria's viral tweet

Angel Di Maria's significant other, Jorgelina Cardosa, has posted a screenshot of text messages with him where Di Maria appears to show some serious ahead of the final vs. France.

"I'm going to be world champions, love. It's written. And I'm going to score a goal. Because it is written like in Maracana and Wembley. 

"You don't have to say anything. Go and enjoy tomorrow because we are going to be champions of the world. Because we deserve it, the 26 that are here and the family of each one."

[Dec 20, 2022 at 12:41 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Messi pays tribute to Maradona

This is also for Diego who supported us from heaven. And for everyone who supported the national team without looking at the score, rather the desire we always put into it, also when things did not turn out as we wanted.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

[Dec 20, 2022 at 12:27 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Four million?

Estimates are rolling in that about four million people are in the streets of Buenos Aires for the World Cup victory parade. Absolutely bonkers numbers.

[Dec 20, 2022 at 12:09 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Fans signing loud and proud 

The fans are signing a song released by La Mosca last month called "Guys, you made us believe again."

The lyrics say "I want to win the third (World Cup), I want to be world champion." Time for an update to the song after having achieved it. 

The lyrics go on to say, "And Diego (Maradona), in the sky we can see him. With don Diego (Maradona's dad) and with la Tota (Maradona's mom), cheering on Lionel."

[Dec 20, 2022 at 11:36 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

This is where the bus was going to go through but couldn't 

[Dec 20, 2022 at 11:20 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

The highway is covered in fans

Take a look at this! Fans have flooded the highway, and the bus has already had to take a detour to keep things moving. Just bonkers scenes around the capital. 

[Dec 20, 2022 at 11:00 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Fans are even renaming streets after Messi

[Dec 20, 2022 at 10:36 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

A scary moment

Last night during the initial celebrations from the airport to the AFA headquarters, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi were sitting on top of the box when they nearly hit looked like what could have been a powerline. It actually took off Paredes' hat in what would have been a really bad situation. 

Take a look:

[Dec 20, 2022 at 10:34 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

So Messi had a nice night...

[Dec 20, 2022 at 10:19 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Millions expected

More than a million fans already took to the street after Sunday's final, and even more are expected today as the team drives around Buenos Aires. This could be a record-setting celebration like the world has never seen before. Just unbelievable scenes.

[Dec 20, 2022 at 10:17 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

This was 4 a.m. just after the team arrived

Please understand that this was not during the parade. This was before, at 4 a.m. on what the government declared a national holiday. Wild scenes.

[Dec 20, 2022 at 10:12 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

The arrival

Here is the team arriving at the airport to a red carpet, live music from musician La Mosca and a huge party that was just getting underway. 

[Dec 20, 2022 at 10:07 am ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Welcome in!

Welcome in to the CBS Sports live blog of the Argentina national team victory parade! They are on their way to the center of Buenos Aires with millions, not thousands, but millions expected in the streets to welcome home the world champions. The Albiceleste won their third World Cup crown on Sunday, defeating France in the final in penalty kicks as Lionel Messi put his stamp on being potentially the greatest of all time.