‘Gracias Papa Lionel’: Watch Argentina release a touching Christmas gift!

Argentina FA released a heartwarming Christmas advert showing a young boy finding the World Cup trophy under the tree.

Argentina FA has released a heart-touching advert of a boy unboxing the World Cup under the Christmas tree.

The video is tweeted by the Argentina FA with the caption: “Thank you Papa Lionel! The most precious gift is already at home. Congratulations to all the Argentine people!”

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In the video, the wide-eyed young boy can be seen rushing down the stairs before he is mesmerised by a huge gift wrapped up in red ribbons. He carefully unravels it and opens the box – at which point he is greeted with the glistening gold masterpiece that is the World Cup trophy. In utter disbelief, he picks up the trophy and exclaims 'Gracias Papa Noel' before kissing it.

In Argentina, Santa Claus is known as Papa Noel, but it has been changed to hail the national team captain Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi has played a pivotal role in Argentina's World Cup win in Qatar.

Messi was influential throughout the tournament in Qatar – and became the first ever footballer to win the Player of the Tournament award twice.

The World Cup is one trophy that has eluded Messi his whole career – including in 2014 when Argentina were defeated by Germany in Rio.

This year's final went down as one of the greatest ever seen with Messi scoring the opener from the penalty spot before Angel Di Maria doubled Argentina's lead before half-time.

And while it looked like the trophy was all but secured, France's superstar Kylian Mbappe took the game to extra-time with a late quick-fire brace.

During extra-time, the PSG stars each scored again to take the game to penalties but it was Messi's Argentina who triumphed in the end and in turn gave the nation the best Christmas present they could have wished for.