Lionel Messi almost taken out by cable on World Cup open-top bus celebrations as Argentina arrive home

Argentina’s World Cup celebrations almost took a dark turn as Lionel Messi narrowly avoided being seriously hurt shortly after his return to Buenos Aires.

They boarded an open-top bus at the airport and were greeted by thousands of cheering fans as they made their way towards the Argentina Football Association training ground, where they spent the night.

Messi, winner of the Golden Ball in Qatar, was the first off the plane holding the World Cup trophy.

He then took up a position at the back of the open-top bus alongside team-mates Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo de Paul, Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi.

The players were chatting and celebrating as the bus turned a corner and almost didn’t notice as an overhead cable approached.

Fortunately they saw it just in time and managed to swiftly duck underneath.

Paredes appeared the last to see the cable and lost his cap as he just got his head down in time.

Tuesday has been declared a national holiday in Argentina and there will be a parade through the capital in celebration of winning a third World Cup title.

It is Argentina’s first World Cup win since Diego Maradona led the team to victory in 1986.

This time it was Messi who inspired Argentina with seven goals and three assists.

“It’s just crazy that it became a reality this way,” said Messi after Argentina beat France on penalties in the final.

“I craved this so much. I knew God would bring this gift to me. I had the feeling that this was the one.”