Argentines let loose on Sunday and streets across the country became places of celebration after an epic World Cup final in which the national team beat France on penalties. It was the country’s third World Cup title, and the first since 1986. “I’m very happy, we really deserved this. The team suffered quite a bit, but it recovered as time went on,” said Josefina Villalba, a 55-year-old nanny who joined hundreds of fans at one of the many public plazas where giant screens were set up to watch the long-awaited match. Millions of Argentines cried, yelled and hugged as they followed the game, which was a roller coaster of emotions. Throughout the match, many watching in a public square in Buenos Aires chanted the name of captain Lionel Messi, often considered the world's greatest soccer player who had long talked about how he yearned for a World Cup victory. Read more: Messi fulfils his destiny, Argentina win third World Cup “I feel an immense happiness in my heart because this is the first World Cup I truly enjoy,” Hector Quinteros, a 34-year-old security guard, said as his eyes welled up with tears. “This always happens. They always make us suffer.” After 36 long years, Argentina finally won a World Cup title, erasing years of doubts and questions about whether a country known for having some of the world's greatest soccer players could really perform on an international stage. The country won its first title in 1978, but lost finals in 1930, 1990 and 2014. At the end of the first half, many were gearing up to celebrate as Argentina led 2-0 and clearly dominated the match. But that early happiness turned to anxiety as France caught up, ultimately leaving the score at 3-3 before Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties. For many, the agonizing feelings of the match made the victory all the sweeter. “When you suffer over something so much, the satisfaction is greater,” Fabio Villani, a 45-year-old video editor said, noting he still couldn’t quite believe Argentina had won a World Cup title. It also felt par for the course for Argentina, a country known for its seemingly endless economic crises. “Suffering is something that is very Argentine,” said Maria Isabel Ayala, a 53-year-old hairdresser. “If we suffer, it’s because we truly feel it in our hearts.” Gonzalo Nogueria, a 34-year-old photographer, said that “it’s a bit of a downer that we had to spend so much time suffering, but it’s also our way of life a bit,” adding that ”in some ways we’re used to it too.” Many fans were quick to remember Argentina great Diego Maradona, who died two years ago, saying he had something to do with today's victory. Read more: ARG-FRA 2-2 after Mbappe drags France back into final “Diego sees everything from heaven, he wouldn't have wanted Argentina to lose. The first cup without him and we won! Diego is always here, he's eternal,” said Javier López, 18, whose voice broke as he spoke of Maradona, who led the national team to what had been its last World Cup title in 1986. “Diego is certainly smiling now,” Brazil soccer legend Pelé wrote on social media as he congratulated Argentina for the victory. In Rosario, Messi’s hometown, a sea of people went out into the streets to celebrate that their local hero had finally won a World Cup title. “It’s madness. It surpassed my expectations with so many people on the same wavelength, everyone celebrating. That's what’s most beautiful about today,” said Jeremías Regolo, 26, who joined the tens of thousands of people who descended on the National Flag Memorial, the symbol of Argentina’s third largest city. People started arriving after Messi lifted the trophy and they were still holding strong into the evening. “We’re champions, which is all we wanted, more than anything for (Messi) and for the whole team,” Santiago Ferraris, 25, said. The national squad led by Messi has managed to unite Argentines with a sense of joy that isn't frequent in a country that has been stuck in economic doldrums for years, is suffering one of the world’s highest inflation rates and almost four in 10 live in poverty. “We’re very happy that they gave us this triumph that the people needed beyond the socioeconomic problems that we’re having,” Gabriel Fernández, a 42-year-old artisan, said as he celebrated his victory surrounded by his family in a Buenos Aires park. Read more: Messi's 12th World Cup goal puts Argentina ahead of France “We needed this, we needed this for all the things that we're going through economically, politically, socially,” Alberto Czornenki, a 45-year-old retail worker, said as he joined the celebrations in a public square in Argentina's capital. “Our lives are full of suffering due to all that, that karma that we have, and this at least gives us some happiness. We're then going to wake up to reality and we're going to be in the same place, but with a different kind of enthusiasm.” Fans also had particular praise for this squad coached by Lionel Scaloni. This team “transmits something that is very different from other squads before that did not feel pride for the national jersey, while these players give everything of themselves in each match,” said Facundo Alonso, a 26-year-old retail worker. President Alberto Fernández joined in on the celebrations and thanked the national team for the victory. “Thank you to the players and the technical team. They're an example that we must never give up. That we have great people and a great future,” Fernández wrote on social media. Brazil’s president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, wrote on social media that he was “happy with the victory of our Argentine neighbors.” President Gabriel Boric of Chile, who had been rooting for the neighboring country during the match, also sent a “gigantic hug to our Argentine brothers.” On a scorching summer day, the Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires quickly started filling with people as thousands went downtown to celebrate. Shortly after the end of the match, the subway turned into a party as fans packed the cars, singing, chanting and jumping for joy as they headed to join the celebrations at the Obelisk. “Holding Leo Messi by the hand, we’re going to go all the way,” the crowd chanted as euphoria took over.

Argentina arguably has the World Cup’s most fervent fans, known for their rhythmical singing, incessant drumming and trance-like ferocity. The country’s history of success at the World Cup — champions in 1978 and 1986, and runners-up three times — is rivaled by few. This fervor will only grow as Lionel Messi leads Argentina against defending champion France in Sunday’s final in Qatar. The World Cup is followed almost everywhere — Brazil to Belgium, Morocco to Mexico, and Saudi Arabia to Spain. But few fans are as intense Argentina’s, or as large in numbers in Qatar. “Above that, people are quite proud of that intensity,” said Santiago Alles, who teaches political science at the University of San Andres in Argentina. “This is something that we are good at, and we care the most about it.” NATIONAL PRIDE Inflation in Argentina is running at 100%, unemployment is high and economic growth is slow, and politics are rancorous. But none of that matters during the World Cup. Even opposition political parties call a truce, knowing there is only space for upbeat talk about soccer. “For a country in the global South, opportunities to defeat the global North are not that frequent,” Alles said. “The World Cup is an opportunity to do that. The national pride is not something you can take away.” Alles noted that social media in Argentina has shown Japanese fans in Qatar imitating Argentina’s style of cheering, copying the melodies, the pounding drums, and adding improvised lyrics in Japanese. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi seeks history with Argentina “We are exporting our way of watching games to other places -- faraway places with entirely different cultures,” Alles said. “There is some pride there.” Alles acknowledged he cannot explain entirely why soccer “holds a pervasive presence in social life,” but it’s omnipresent. “And it has been that way for at least a century,” Alles added. “I saw a picture of a large crowd listening to the 1930 World Cup on the radio.” Neighboring Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final, that one at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. IN THE DNA From sunrise to sunset, in office talk or chatting with friends, the first and last topic in Argentina is often soccer. “This is a culture where soccer is related with almost every activity in our life,” said Pablo Ava, who teaches sociology at the University of Buenos Aires. “It’s not only passion, but identification. The passion you see in Qatar reflects the passion you see for clubs at a local level.” Buenos Aires is home to one of the greatest club rivalries: Boca Juniors versus River Plate. Racing Club, among the so-called “Big Five” clubs in Argentina, was strongly supported by former President Juan Domingo Peron. And the stadium was named for him. “Soccer is important,” Ava said. “It’s part of our conversation. It’s part of our life. Part of our family tradition. Part of our DNA. There is a very strong identification between soccer and your personal life.” THE POLITICS Mauricio Macri was the president of Boca Juniors, which helped propel him to the election as mayor of the capital Buenos Aires, and then the presidency of Argentina (2015-19). Other politicians are directly — or indirectly — connected to many clubs. Sergio Massa, the country’s economy minister, has been a leader at Tigre club and gets some credit for helping get it promoted to the first division. “Marci showed up in politics, not as an entrepreneur. He showed up as Boca Juniors president who won 17 cups (tournaments),” Ava said. “So many people start seeing soccer teams as a trampoline to a career in politics. “Soccer and politics have started to have a strong marriage because you get good exposure on TV and if you are a success in soccer you can take that success to the public,” Ava added. The opposite is also true. Macri attended Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago in the opening match of group play at the World Cup. At home, Macri was seen as bringing bad luck. Consequently, current President Alberto Fernandez has said he will not attend the final. “He is not going to risk his presidency and show up at the last game in Qatar,” Ava said. UNIFYING FACTOR Argentines can disagree on everything, but the national soccer team is a unifying force like nothing else. “In a country that’s highly factious, it the factor that unites everyone,” Mark Jones, who studies Latin American politics at Rice University in Houston, told The Associated Press. “The team usually does well and it’s something to be associated with.” Read more: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Argentina beat Poland 2-0 to top Group C The only other unifier that’s as strong is Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas in Spanish), located off the country’s Atlantic coast but under British control. Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982 and lost. “Argentines see the country has having gone downhill over the last 75 years, and they see their standard of living is significantly worse than it was three or four year ago,” Jones said. “So they are looking for something to be optimistic about — to be happy about — something to hold on to. The national team, the World Cup, provides that.” Ava, the sociologist, said Argentines are not “caring now to talk about the inflation, the unemployment, because we are going through something that looks more important — and least for a few more days. Politics has to take a little break to let soccer carry on.”

Tears welled in the eyes of Oscar López as he washed the windows of the Buenos Aires building where he works as the superintendent. A devoted fan of Argentina, the 67-year-old was visibly upset as he reflected on the bitter 2-1 loss by the national team, delivered by upstart Saudi Arabia on Monday at the World Cup in Qatar. But the fact that Argentina was favored over the Saudis is no excuse, Lopez said. “If they’re in the World Cup, no team is easy,” López said. “You always have to be careful.” Most of Argentina got up early to watch the 7 a.m. match and the long-awaited debut of Lionel Messi’s team. Many walked to bakeries in Buenos Aires wearing the light-blue-and-white jerseys to grab snacks. Sounds of cheering were heard in the streets at the kickoff. More noise followed when Messi scored early in the game, and the din of air horns penetrated the morning air. But an eerie silence then set in, as what was supposed to be an easy match turned challenging. Saudi Arabia rallied with two second-half goals, and one of World Cup's favorites instead suffered one of its biggest upsets. “The truth is, this is a disappointment, a big disappointment,” said Alejandro Pintos, a 36-year-old locksmith who opened his shop later than usual to watch the game. “This was the match that we had no choice but to win.” Pintos said the national team was “very disorganized” — something he found particularly frustrating, given its 36-match unbeaten streak leading up to the tournament. Read more: World Cup stunner: Saudi Arabia beat Messi’s Argentina 2-1 Local media quoted Messi as saying he was just as shocked as the fans on how things had turned out. “It’s a very strong blow,” Messi said. “We didn’t expect to begin this way.” Other fans took to social media to complain about three potential Argentina goals ruled out on offside calls. Argentines were counting on the World Cup to bring a glimmer of a hope to a country that has been economically stagnant for years, suffering a nearly 100% inflation rate and where close to four in 10 live in poverty. “I’m really quite bitter,” said Josefina Licera, a 27-year-old social worker, as she waited to take a bus to work. “I was really sure we were going to win, and it was a big surprise.” Susana Leguizamón, 55, woke up early, put on her blue-and-white-striped Argentina jersey and was ready to celebrate. “I was very, very, very surprised,” she said. “The truth is, we underestimated our rival.” But Santiago Babarro, 40, said he wasn’t too shocked by the loss. “The same thing always happens to Argentina," the retail worker said. "We say, ‘This is an easy match, we can win it easily,’ and then, bam! They put us in our place. We always believe we’re more than what we are.” Sebastián Fabre said he woke up with an uneasy feeling and was worried about what he said was overconfidence by Argentina's fans. “There was way too much unfounded optimism. I didn’t want to say anything but I think we were all way too overconfident,” he said. Read more: Qatar World Cup: Messi scores as Argentina take 1-0 lead against Saudi Arabia Leguizamón, who walked to her job at a restaurant still wearing her Argentina jersey, said she could feel the suffering of those around her. “Everyone is very sad, very sad,” she said. “We all woke up with lots of hope.” Some fans saw a silver lining in suffering adversity at the outset of the tournament. Argentina next plays Mexico on Saturday in the second Group C match. “Really, it’s better that this happened in the first match and not in the quarterfinals,” Fabre said. “That’s the positive side to this.” Leguizamón agreed. “A trip is not a fall, as we say here,” she said, using a common Argentine expression. “I’m a big fan of the national team and I get in a really bad mood when it loses but my hope is intact.” The saddest part, said 21-year-old retail worker Florencia Folgoso, "is having to go to work after watching a match that we lost. You already start the day with the left foot.”