When Argentina plays its first game after winning the World Cup in Qatar on Thursday, Lionel Messi and his teammates will triumphantly return to their home country.
For the 63,000 tickets that were still available for the match versus Central American minnows Panama at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, more than 1.5 million supporters applied.
Following the dramatic penalty shootout triumph by the Albiceleste over France in December, football-crazy Argentines were out in even greater numbers. A few days later, for the trophy procession, an estimated five million individuals flooded the streets of Buenos Aires.
The crowd was so large that the march had to stop far before it got to central Buenos Aires because it ran hours late.
Did you read this?
After the Doha final, in which he scored two goals and a penalty shootout goal, Messi had been widely predicted to end his international career. However, the Paris Saint-Germain forward said he wanted to play a little bit longer to wear the Argentina shirt in blue and white as a world champion.
"He wants to keep coming, and he is in fantastic form. The coach stated on Tuesday that we'd see when he tells me he's not feeling well".
He is currently content with the national team, says the source.
The anticipation was slightly dampened earlier this month when two individuals opened fire on a closed grocery owned by Messi's wife's family and then left a threatening note for the seven-time Ballon, d'Or winner.
"Everyone Will Try To Defeat Us,"
Buenos Aires is anticipated to have a wild nightlife during the team's competitive homecoming.
Within two hours of the remaining tickets being sold, they were all bought. Since 20,000 spots in the 83,000-seat stadium were set aside for invitees.
The prices ranged from the least expensive (12,000 pesos, or $60) to the most expensive (49,000 pesos, or $245), more than half the country's average monthly wage.
In a stadium with only 344 journalists, Argentina Football Federation President Claudio Tapia reported that the company had received over 130,000 requests for interviews with media credentials.
Those who weren't fortunate enough to secure tickets will at least be able to watch the game on television for free due to the government's broadcast of it without restrictions.
Regardless of the situation or opposition, the team would not be content to sit back and enjoy their success, as Scaloni had vowed.
He explained that the goal is to maintain the same level of play.
"Now that everyone wants to beat us, it will be harder than ever."
Argentina will meet the island of Curacao on Match 28 in Santiago del Estero following the contest on Thursday.
