Messi leads the party as Argentina players continue their World Cup celebrations

Lionel Messi led the celebrations as Argentina's World Cup winners enjoyed a night out after reuniting for international duty for the first time since lifting the trophy in Qatar.

Argentina beat Panama 2-0 on Thursday in their first game since their dramatic penalty shootout win over France, in what will go down as one of the greatest World Cup final matches in history.

Though Lionel Scaloni's side are back in action on Wednesday against Curacao, they have used the six-day gap between the games to their advantage, enjoying a night out to continue their World Cup celebrations.

Messi, who scored a brace in the final, posed for a picture with former PSG team-mate Angel Di Maria who scored the second goal for Argentina in a game which finished 3-3 before it went to penalties.

The team also took some group pictures, with many seen with a drink in their hand.

Benfica and former Man City defender Nicolas Otamendi meanwhile shared videos of him, Di Maria, Paulo Dybala and Cristian Romero dancing - which have since been deleted from his Instagram story.

Though the players enjoyed their night out, it didn't quite escalate to the heights of the celebrations in the days that followed their World Cup triumph.

They partied through the night after winning the competition last December, and millions of fans then thronged the streets as they paraded through Buenos Aires on their return to Argentina.

Perhaps the most famous image from the bus parade is that of Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez holding a doll with Kylian Mbappe's face on it.

Argentina fans gave the players a heroes reception once again when thousands packed into the Estadio Monumental, the home of River Plate, waving flags, banging drums and chanting joyously as they celebrated the World Cup triumph in the friendly against Panama.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Messi, widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, had been previously blasted by Argentines for not caring enough about his country or not delivering on the biggest stage like legend Diego Maradona did.

But that has all changed now, and according to reports, on Monday hundreds of fans crowded outside a steakhouse in Palermo, Buenos Aires, when they realised Messi was inside having dinner.

As he walked out smiling, surrounded by security, well-wishers chanted 'Messi I love you' and 'Thank you, Leo'.

Fans had to wait until the 89th minute for some Messi magic against Panama as he struck a stunning free-kick into the top right corner to double Argentina's lead following Thiago Almada's opener.

Afterwards the players were joined by their loved ones on the pitch to fully enjoy and celebrate their World Cup glory with their adoring fans.

Messi was lifted into the air while photos with replica World Cup trophies were taken.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could not resist a reprise of the crude celebration for which he was so heavily criticized for back in December.

He and some team-mates made a rude gesture with their replica trophies as they held them over their private parts.

Messi capped off the emotional homecoming last Thursday with a speech sharing that he 'dreamed' of celebrating in his home country.

He said: 'I want to thank you for all the love we have been receiving, not only for being world champions, but also for the Copa America beforehand. We had said that we were going to do everything possible for this.

'I have always personally dreamed of this moment, to be able to celebrate with you, to come to my country, to Argentina, to lift a Cope America, the Finalissima, and the greatest thing, which is the World Cup.'