2023 was a record-breaking season for football, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) wrote in a report released Wednesday morning.

Perhaps the most impressive is a new record for combined attendance on a matchday, with the 2023 Fecha de Clasicos (Derbies Fixture) seeing over 370,000 spectators head to games. 

Held on week seven of the Copa de la Liga Profesional, from September 29 to October 2, this special weekend has teams playing against their derby rival and has become a super Sunday of sorts for Argentine football.

The league as a whole reached a new record for fans’ attendance at games. The tournaments reached an average stadium occupancy of 79% throughout the year.

It was also a record-breaking season for those watching from home. AFA reached 11 TV rating points per game, the highest-ever season average, with a high of 14 points during the Derbies Fixture. By way of comparison, the most viewed evening news show in Argentina peaked at just over 8 points, according to viewership researchers Ibope.

Argentine football also saw an increase in popularity on social media, with teams and league collectively reaching a record 95 million followers across all platforms.

AFA attributes the numbers to the Albiceleste’s success in Qatar 2022. “The [World Cup] won by [Lionel] Messi and his teammates worked as the cornerstone for an enthusiasm that moved clubs, board members, players and fans to this ‘boom’ of local football which reflected upon all First Division clubs,” the federation wrote.

First Division clubs reached a record 1.7 million club members across all 28 teams. The clubs also invested heavily in infrastructure, with over 170 works completed in 2023.

The AFA announcement comes at a controversial time for Argentine football clubs: President Javier Milei’s mega-decree allowed clubs to become private sports corporations. Previously, they could only operate as nonprofit civil associations

“The infrastructure development wasn’t limited to the world’s most popular sport,” said the AFA statement. “As is often said, football clubs in Argentina fulfill a role far beyond the sport. They develop other disciplines and fulfill social, cultural, health and assistance roles that other organization’s can’t. […] Nonprofit civil associations make it clear that they don’t see football as a business opportunity but as a key way to help society as a whole.”