TheWorld Cupchampions were forced Tuesday to abandon their bus for a helicopter when pandemonium broke out during Argentina’s celebratory parade.

Lionel Messi and his teammates were traveling on an open-air bus through the packed streets of Buenos Aires, where an estimated four million fans were in attendance to celebrate the 2022 FIFA World Cup victory.

Gabriela Cerruti, the spokesperson for Argentina’s president Alberto Fernández, informed fans of the need for the team to switch from the bus to helicopters during the celebration to protect their safety.

Natacha Pisarenko/AP/Shutterstock

From left to right, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi sit on the top of a bus during a homecoming parade for the team that won the World Cup tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina

“The World Champions are flying over the entire route in helicopters because it became impossible to continue on land due to the explosion of popular joy,” Cerruti wrote on Twitter. “Let’s continue to celebrate in peace and show them our love and admiration!”

Rodrigo Abd/AP/Shutterstock

The Argentine soccer team that won the World Cup title ride on an open bus during their homecoming parade in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The evacuation was the second close call involving a bus during Argentina’s World Cup celebrations.

ESPN Argentinashared a video of the close call.

Translated from Spanish, the outlet wrote, “BE CAREFUL WITH THE CABLES BOYS! Unusual moment in the arrival of the world champions in Argentina.”

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ESPN Argentina also confirmed that player Leandro Paredes' hat “flew off” during the moment.

As seen in the video, Rodrigo De Paul was the player who first noticed the bus heading toward the cables, and he was able to warn his teammates to duck before anyone was injured.

source: people.com