Some fans continued celebrating in the streets, while others headed out of Buenos Aires with long faces, complaining they were unable to pay their respects to the team that brought home the country's first World Cup trophy since 1986.
"We're angry because the government didn't organize this properly so we could all celebrate," said Diego Benavidez, 25, who had been waiting since early morning to see the team. "They stole the World Cup from us."
Others, however, took it in stride.
"I'm not disappointed, we lived the party," said Nicolas Lopez, 33, who was in downtown Buenos Aires with his 7-year-old daughter.
The parade was suspended shortly after two people jumped from a bridge onto the open-top bus carrying the players. One made it inside the bus, the other fell onto the pavement.
The players were all smiles as they watched the multitudes hostling to get as close as possible to the bus. An estimated 4 million people were in the streets by Tuesday afternoon, according to local media citing police sources.
"I celebrate the way the people took to the streets to honor our squad," President Alberto Fernandez wrote on social media after the parade was cut short.
Celebrating fans took over highways, avenues and the access routes into the capital as temperatures climbed to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
By mid-afternoon, fans started filling up Plaza de Mayo in front of Government House, amid rumors the players might go there for a reprise of the festivities for Argentina's 1986 World Cup victory that were held there. Fernandez's administration had offered the palatial mansion, popularly known as the Casa Rosada, or Pink House, according to Security Minister Anibal Fernandez.
The raucous welcome for the team began before dawn as thousands of fans lined up upon their return from Qatar.
The players were beaming as they descended from their plane in Ezeiza, outside Argentina's capital, shortly before 3 a.m. onto a red carpet. Messi was the first one out, carrying the World Cup trophy, flanked by coach Lionel Scaloni, who put his arm around the captain as they walked past a sign that read, "Thank you, champions."
The team was welcomed by rock band La Mosca singing "Muchachos," and several players, including Messi, could be seen singing the words as they boarded the bus taking them to the Argentine Football Association headquarters.
It took the bus an hour to travel the 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from the airport to AFA headquarters, where the players were welcomed with fireworks, and then spent the night. In the morning, Messi posted a photo on social media showing him hugging the World Cup trophy next to him while he slept.