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Argentina national football team

Men's association football team

  • 11 min read
  • 11 chapters

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Through Exhibition game and World War I

Argentina has won the Copa América a record 16 times, most recently in 2024. With victories in 1945, 1946 and 1947, it is the only nation to have won the tournament three consecutive times. Argentina won the Panamerican Championship in 1960, the inaugural FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992, and the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions in 1993 and 2022. Argentina holds the record for most official international titles, with 23. Argentina players have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball three times: Diego Maradona in 1986, and Lionel Messi in 2014 and 2022. Messi has the most appearances for the team (207) and has scored the most goals (125). As of 20 July 2026, Argentina ranks second in the FIFA Men's World Ranking. Argentina is known for having rivalries with Brazil, England, Germany, Netherlands, and Uruguay.

History

The first ever match Argentina played was against Uruguay on June 20, 1902, in Montevideo. It was the first international match for both sides, and Argentina won 6–0. During the first years of Argentina's existence, the team only played friendly matches against other South American teams. The reasons for this varied, including long travel times between countries and the outbreak of World War I.

Argentina has appeared in the FIFA World Cup final seven times, including the first ever final on 30 July 1930, which they lost 4–2 to Uruguay. Argentina won their next final on 25 June 1978, beating the Netherlands 3–1 on extra time. In 1986, Diego Maradona led Argentina to their second title with a 3–2 victory over West Germany. Maradona led Argentina to the final again in 1990, but the team lost 1–0 to West Germany by a much-disputed penalty. With Lionel Messi as captain, Argentina reached the final in 2014, where they were defeated 1–0 by Germany in extra time. Argentina won their third FIFA World Cup in 2022 by defeating France in a penalty shoot-out, after a 3–3 draw. In the 2026 World Cup, Argentina reached the final again but lost 1–0 to Spain, finishing as runners-up. This match was very controversial as many football fans deemed the Argentine team's behavior after losing the game to be unprofessional. Argentina's World Cup-winning managers are César Luis Menotti (1978), Carlos Bilardo (1986) and Lionel Scaloni (2022).

Argentina has won the Copa América a record 16 times, most recently in 2024. The team also won the inaugural FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992 and the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions in 1993 and 2022. In March 2007, Argentina reached the top of the FIFA Men's World Ranking for the first time.

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