An emotional Lionel Messi fought back tears as he and his Argentina teammates were given a rousing reception by fans in their first game on home soil since winning the World Cup in Qatar.
A packed Monumental serenaded their heroes before kick off in their friendly against Panama, a match Argentina won 2-0 with goals from Thiago Almada and Messi.
Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting line-up from the World Cup final win over France as they looked dominant from the start, but could not break through the Panamanian defensive wall until late in the second half.
Atlanta United's Almada opened the scoring in the 79th minute with his first international goal after capitalising on a rebound following a free kick by Messi that hit the left post.
Captain Messi finally got his 800th career goal – his 99th for Argentina – and doubled the lead in the 89th minute with a brilliant free-kick that went into the top right corner to excite the more than 80,000 fans chanting his name at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
"I always dreamed of this moment, to celebrate with you in my country Argentina, lifting the greatest thing that is the World Cup," Messi said at a post-match ceremony organised by the Argentina Football Association to celebrate the country's third World Cup title and first in 36 years.
"Let's keep doing what we are doing and enjoy this, because we have been waiting a long time to win it again. Let's enjoy the third star."
A tearful Scaloni added: "Eternal gratitude to these players. Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn't have won the World Cup."
Argentina will continue their World Cup winners' homecoming with a friendly against Curacao on Tuesday.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi embraces his sons prior to an international friendly match against Panama in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Argentina won the match 2-0. AP Photo -
Lionel Messi of Argentina with his children and teammates line up for the national anthem. Getty Images -
The wife of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi, Antonela Roccuzzo, films with her mobile phone before the friendly football match against Panama, at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. AFP -
Lionel Messi of Argentina enters the pitch and passes next to the World Cup. Getty Images -
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi applauds fans after the national anthems ceremony. AFP -
Argentina forward Lionel Messi walks past the World Cup trophy before the friendly football match against Panama. AFP -
Lionel Messi of Argentina. Getty Images -
Panama's Kevin Galvan fouls Argentina's Lionel Messi. AP Photo -
Argentina forward Lionel Messi shoots. AFP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with teammate Rodrigo De Paul after scoring his side's second goal against Panama. It was his 800th goal in his senior career. AFP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi scores their second goal. Reuters -
Argentina's forward Lionel Messi waves during a recognition ceremony for the World Cup winning team. AFP -
Argentina forward Lionel Messi celebrates with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. AFP -
Argentina forward Lionel Messi looks at his son Thiago as he lifts a replica of the World Cup trophy. AFP -
Argentina forward Lionel Messi is lifted up by teammates during a recognition ceremony. AFP
