Angola goes wild as Lionel Messi and Argentina land in Luanda
The Argentine national team has touched down on African soil – and Angola has exploded with excitement.
Lionel Scaloni’s squad arrived in Luanda ahead of their final international friendly of the FIFA Date, and the moment the plane doors opened, it was clear this was no ordinary arrival. Hundreds of Angolan fans gathered around the airport perimeter, chanting, singing, and surging forward for a glimpse of one man: Lionel Messi.
It has been years since Angola last hosted a global football icon of Messi’s magnitude, and the reaction bordered on hysteria. Supporters climbed onto fences, waved Argentine flags, and held up homemade banners with Messi’s name scribbled in marker. Some fans even sprinted alongside the team bus as it made its slow exit, smiling, filming, and shouting “Messi! Messi!” at the top of their lungs.
For many local fans, the chance to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was a once-in-a-lifetime moment – and Luanda embraced it with full passion.
Argentina’s African trip had already been preceded by a burst of enthusiasm in Spain. Before flying to Luanda, the Scaloneta trained in front of more than 25,000 fans at Elche’s Martinez Valero Stadium in an open session that looked more like a matchday than a practice.
Rondos, short-passing drills, finishing exercises – all were carried out with an audience roaring at every Messi touch. The AFA publicly thanked Elche for the warm hospitality before the team continued its journey to Angola, where an even more electric reception awaited.
Argentina will face the Angolan national team this Friday at the 11 de Novembro Stadium. For Scaloni, it will be an opportunity to rotate, evaluate less regular players, and fine-tune the structure built around the world champion core.
For Angola, it’s something else entirely – a historic night, a celebration, and the chance to welcome the world champions and their greatest star