Argentina National Team
Lionel Messi
Messi’s journey with Argentina is a story of persistence and determination. He faced years of criticism and disappointment but never gave up on his dream of winning with his country. When he finally succeeded, it made the victories even sweeter.
In 2025, Messi was named the All-Time Men’s World Best Player by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. This honor recognized not just his incredible skills, but his entire career of excellence.
Today, when people in Argentina think about Messi, they don’t remember the losses. They remember the player who brought them three major trophies: the Copa América in 2021, the World Cup in 2022, and the Copa América again in 2024. He is celebrated as Argentina’s greatest player ever, alongside legends like Diego Maradona.
World Cup Success
Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup three times, making them one of only eight countries ever to win this trophy. Their victories came in:
- 1978 – Argentina won their first World Cup on home soil
- 1986 – Led by the legendary Diego Maradona, Argentina claimed their second title
- 2022 – Captain Lionel Messi finally won his first World Cup, leading Argentina to their third championship in Qatar
These three World Cup victories have made Argentina one of the most respected and successful soccer nations in history.
making of soccer
How Soccer Came to Argentina
In the late 1800s, British workers and families moved to Argentina for business and jobs. They brought soccer with them from England, where the sport was already popular. These British expatriates started playing informal matches and formed some of the first soccer clubs in Argentina. Soon, local Argentines fell in love with the game too.
how the game as changed today
Creating the Official Team
The Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, or AFA for short, is Argentina’s official soccer organization. The AFA formed the national team so Argentina could compete against other countries in international matches. From those early days in 1902, Argentina would go on to become one of the most successful soccer nations in the world.
franco mastantuono
Franco has represented Argentina at the youth levels and has already earned a spot on Argentina’s senior national team. Following in the footsteps of Argentine legends like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, Franco dreams of playing in a World Cup for his country.
Juilan Alveraz
Julián’s international career with Argentina has been remarkable. He made his debut for the senior national team in June 2021, coming on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifying match against Chile.
Enzo Fernandez
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Enzo has expressed his determination to help Argentina defend their title. He knows that this tournament could be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, and he wants to help his teammate and mentor win one more time. Enzo has even said that one of his dreams is to eventually become Argentina’s captain when Messi retires from international soccer.
“Now I don’t care about records or individual goals, for me team victory is more important than prioritizing individuals. Our goal here is to defend the title we have. On the other hand, I want to restore the mentality of Martinez, who was always criticized for being sluggish when playing for the Argentine national team.”
GAston Edul
“The last thing I want to tell you … I just wanted to say, the World Cup final is coming and sure, we (Argentinians) all want to win the Cup, but I just want to tell you that no matter the result, the fact you resonated with Argentinians, every single one. I’m being serious.
“There’s no kid who doesn’t have your shirt, no matter if it’s fake, real or a homemade one. Truly you made your mark in everyone’s life and that to me is beyond winning any World Cup. No one else can take that from you and this is my gratitude, for such happiness you bring to a lot of people.”
Sofi MArtinez