Argentina team bring 500 kilogrammes of herbal drink yerba mate loved by Messi to Qatar

Gulf Today Report

A media report indicated that the Argentine national team brought with them during its participation in the World Cup about 500 kilograms of yerba mate.

Yerba mate is an herbal tea. This tea, commonly known simply as mate, is popular in parts of South America. The leaves and twigs of the yerba mate plant are dried, typically over a fire, and steeped in hot water to make an herbal tea. Yerba mate may be served cold or hot.

Argentina qualified for the final, after defeating Croatia 3-0, to face the winner of the Morocco-France match.

According to the report published by The New York Times, the team's delegation, which includes about 75 people among coaches, players and specialists, brought 1100 pounds of mate, equivalent to approximately 500 kilograms, for fear of facing a shortage in Qatar.

This drink is common among players of the Latin national teams, especially in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The media added that the Brazilian team brought with it about 12 kilograms of yerba mate, while the Uruguay team brought 240 kilograms.

The newspaper also indicated that the Argentine national team players used to drink mate everywhere after matches and on the bus, describing it as a ritual.

"I drink it more than anything that brings us together," Argentine midfielder Alexis McCallister, who is part of his country's World Cup squad, told media.