Don’t bake me Argentina! World Cup winner Papu Gomez covered in painful sunburn after his team’s open-top tour bus parade

Argentina’s world champion Papu Gomez was painfully sunburnt after his team’s victory parade on an open-top bus through Buenos Aires.

Days of celebration in the capital have made global headlines since La Albiceleste beat France 4-2 on penalties on Sunday night, with wild scenes ranging from pure jubilation to occasional chaos.

At times the party descended into chaos as so many people filled the streets of Buenos Aires that the players had to be evacuated from their bus parade. One die-hard fan even fell off the team bus when he tried to land on it by jumping off a bridge.

And now Papu Gomez, one of Argentina’s soccer heroes, can count himself among the victims of the country’s wild parties.

Ah! Argentina’s world champion Papu Gomez suffered from painful sunburn after his team’s victory parade on an open-top bus through Buenos Aires (pictured). He seemed to take the pain in stride, writing “I need aloe vera” in a message to his fans

The Buenos Aires midfielder was as red as a lobster after spending the day in the sun on the open-top tour bus that traveled around his hometown.

Pictures from around the city showed the triumphant shirtless player – basking in glory and sunshine – with his world champion’s medal around his neck. Carefree, the 34-year-old was seen waving to fans and celebrating loudly.

However, when Gomez got home from the open-top bus party, he wished he had at least taken a moment to put on sunscreen.

The player, who is currently with Spanish club Sevilla, only had an unburnt patch of skin where his winner’s medal hung. But he seemed to take the pain in stride, writing “I need aloe vera” in a message to his fans.

In the photo: Papu Gomez (right) can be seen at Argentina’s bus parade on Sunday after winning the World Cup. The 34-year-old suffered a sunburn after the parade. The player only had an unburned piece of skin – where his winner’s medal hung

Pictured: Gomez wears an Argentine bucket hat on the open-top tour bus as he celebrates his team’s World Cup win

So many cheering, flag-waving supporters swarmed through the capital that the players had to leave the open-air bus (pictured) to be transported to Buenos Aires and jump on helicopters to fly over the capital, prompting the government to refer to flight over

He and his teammates sat on the bus for so long because so many people came to greet them that he got stuck and could only complete half of the planned route.

So many cheering, flag-waving fans swarmed the capital that the players had to abandon the open-air bus that had taken them to Buenos Aires and board helicopters to fly over the capital in what the government described as a flyover.

“The world champions are flying the entire route in helicopters because it was impossible to go to the country because of the explosion of joy from the people,” Gabriela Cerruti, spokeswoman for President Alberto Fernández, wrote on social media.

The bus drove through the crowd at a snail’s pace for more than four hours before the parade was interrupted by land.

But the players were all smiles as they watched the crowd scramble to get as close to the bus as possible. According to local media, citing police sources, an estimated 4 million people were on the streets by Tuesday afternoon.

Team captain Lionel Messi and the rest of the players waved to the large crowd as they lifted the World Cup trophy after lifting the country’s third title.

Papu Gomez of Argentina lifts the trophy after the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar, December 18, 2022

Pictured: Papu Gomez is seen in a helicopter after the team’s tour bus got stuck after being besieged by fans during its victory tour in Buenos Aires

After flying over key points where fans gathered, the helicopters returned to the Argentine Football Federation’s headquarters outside the capital.

Some fans continued to celebrate in the streets, while others left Buenos Aires with open faces, complaining that they could not pay tribute to the team that took home the country’s first World Cup trophy since 1986.

Others, however, took it to heart.

“It’s crazy, it’s indescribable,” said 23-year-old Brian Andreassi as he walked downtown in his team jersey. “There are no words for it.”

As night fell, when most of the fans had already left downtown Buenos Aires, there were scattered clashes between some stragglers and police officers. At least eight people were injured, according to local media.

The incidents began when firefighters went to the Obelisk, the symbol of Buenos Aires, the traditional place of celebrations, to evict some people who managed to get inside.

The World Cup and the success of Messi’s team have brought much-needed good news to a country that has been in an economic downturn for years and has one of the highest inflation rates in the world, with nearly 4 in 10 people living in poverty.