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Ammon News - World Cup winners Argentina were forced to abandon their homecoming parade in Buenos Aires due to the phenomenal number of supporters out partying in the streets.

Millions of ecstatic fans brought the capital to a standstill as Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates set off in an open-top bus at the start of a scheduled eight-hour journey.

But as the celebrations became more chaotic and fever pitched, the players – who defeated France in Sunday's dramatic final in Qatar – were unable to reach the central Obelisco monument as planned because the route was completely blocked by the estimated four million people out to party.

Three hours into the procession, the bus had barely covered a third of the planned path.

As security fears increased – social media footage showed some fans trying to jump on to the bus when it passed under a bridge – the players were instead transferred into helicopters for a bird's-eye view of the incredible scenes.

“The world champions are flying over the entire route in helicopters because it became impossible to continue on land due to the explosion of joy,” presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti wrote on Twitter.

The Argentine government declared on Tuesday would be a national holiday in the South American country after Messi and his teammates beat France in a penalty shoot-out to secure a third world crown – and their first since 1986.