Argentina national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Argentina women's national football team.

Argentina
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)La Albiceleste
(The White and Sky Blue)[1]
AssociationAsociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA)
ConfederationCONMEBOL (South America)
Head coachLionel Scaloni
CaptainLionel Messi
Most capsLionel Messi (180)
Top scorerLionel Messi (106)
Home stadiumVarious
FIFA codeARG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 1 Steady (4 April 2024)[2]
Highest1 (March 2007, October 2007 – June 2008, July–October 2015, April 2016 – April 2017, April 2023 –)
Lowest20 (August 1996)
First international
 Uruguay 0–6 Argentina 
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 20 July 1902)[3][4][5][6]
Biggest win
 Argentina 12–0 Ecuador 
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 22 January 1942)
Biggest defeat
 Czechoslovakia 6–1 Argentina 
(Helsingborg, Sweden; 15 June 1958)
 Bolivia 6–1 Argentina 
(La Paz, Bolivia; 1 April 2009)[7]
 Spain 6–1 Argentina 
(Madrid, Spain; 27 March 2018)[8]
World Cup
Appearances18 (first in 1930)
Best resultChampions (1978, 1986, 2022)
Copa América
Appearances43 (first in 1916)
Best resultChampions (1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021)
Panamerican Championship
Appearances2 (first in 1956)
Best resultChampions (1960)
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Appearances2 (first in 1993)
Best resultChampions (1993, 2022)
FIFA Confederations Cup
Appearances3 (first in 1992)
Best resultChampions (1992)
Medal record
FIFA World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1978 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1986 Mexico Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Qatar Team
Silver medal – second place 1930 Uruguay Team
Silver medal – second place 1990 Italy Team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Brazil Team
FIFA Confederations Cup
Gold medal – first place 1992 Argentina Team
Silver medal – second place 1995 Argentina Team
Silver medal – second place 2005 Argentina Team
Copa América
Gold medal – first place 1921 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1925 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1927 Peru Team
Gold medal – first place 1929 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1937 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1941 Chile Team
Gold medal – first place 1945 Chile Team
Gold medal – first place 1946 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1947 Ecuador Team
Gold medal – first place 1955 Chile Team
Gold medal – first place 1957 Peru Team
Gold medal – first place 1959 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1991 Chile Team
Gold medal – first place 1993 Ecuador Team
Gold medal – first place 2021 Brazil Team
Silver medal – second place 1916 Argentina Team
Silver medal – second place 1917 Uruguay Team
Silver medal – second place 1920 Chile Team
Silver medal – second place 1923 Uruguay Team
Silver medal – second place 1924 Uruguay Team
Silver medal – second place 1926 Chile Team
Silver medal – second place 1935 Peru Team
Silver medal – second place 1942 Uruguay Team
Silver medal – second place 1959 Ecuador Team
Silver medal – second place 1967 Uruguay Team
Silver medal – second place 2004 Peru Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Venezuela Team
Silver medal – second place 2015 Chile Team
Silver medal – second place 2016 United States Team
Bronze medal – third place 1919 Brazil Team
Bronze medal – third place 1956 Uruguay Team
Bronze medal – third place 1963 Bolivia Team
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Brazil Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Brazil Team
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Gold medal – first place 1993 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 England Team

The Argentina national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Argentina) represents Argentina in men's international football and is administered by the Argentine Football Association, the governing body for football in Argentina.

Nicknamed La Albiceleste ('The White and Sky Blue'), they are the reigning world champions, having won the most recent World Cup in 2022, earning their third star shown by the team's crest. Overall, Argentina has appeared in a World Cup final six times, a record equaled by Italy and surpassed only by Brazil and Germany. Argentina played in the first ever final in 1930, which they lost 4–2 to Uruguay. The following final appearance came 48 years later, in 1978, when the team captained by Daniel Passarella defeated the Netherlands 3–1 in extra time, becoming world champions for the first time. Captained by Diego Maradona, Argentina won their second World Cup eight years later, in 1986, with a 3–2 final victory over West Germany. They reached the final once more under the guidance of Maradona, in 1990, but were ultimately beaten 1–0 by West Germany. A few decades later, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi made their fifth final appearance in 2014, losing to Germany 1–0 after extra time. In 2022, again captained by Messi, they were crowned world champions for the third time, the fourth-most of any country, beating France 4–2 on penalties, following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

The team's World Cup–winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978, Carlos Bilardo in 1986 and Lionel Scaloni in 2022. Since the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player was officially awarded by FIFA in 1982, Argentina players have won it three times: Maradona in 1986 and Messi in 2014 and 2022. Argentines Guillermo Stábile in 1930 and Mario Kempes in 1978 were the top-scoring players at their respective World Cups.

Argentina has also been very successful in the Copa América, winning it 15 times, a record shared with Uruguay, most recently winning the 2021 edition. The team won the inaugural FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992. Argentina is the most successful team in the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, having won it twice, in 1993 and 2022. Argentina is known for having rivalries with Brazil, Uruguay, England, Germany and the Netherlands.[10][11] As of 2024, Argentina holds the record for most official titles won by a men's national team with 22. Individually for Argentina, Lionel Messi is the all-time most-capped player with 180 games and the highest goalscorer with 106 goals. As of December 2023, Argentina ranks 1st by FIFA.[12]

History[edit]

Main article: History of the Argentina national football team
Further information: Football in Argentina

The first ever match Argentina played was against Uruguay on 20 June 1902.[note 1] The game, which was the first international for both sides, was held in Montevideo, and Argentina won 6–0.[3][6] During the first years of its existence, Argentina only played friendly matches against other South American teams. The reasons for this varied, including long travel times between countries and the interruption due to World War I.[14]

La Albiceleste has appeared in World Cup finals six 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. Eight years later, in 1986, Argentina led by Diego Maradona won their second title with a 3–2 victory over West Germany. Under the guidance of Maradona, they reached the final again, in 1990, but ultimately lost 1–0 to West Germany, by a much-disputed penalty. Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina reached the final in 2014, where they were beaten 1–0 by Germany in extra time. In 2022, again under the captaincy of Messi, Argentina won their third World Cup, beating France 4–2 on penalties, following a 3–3 draw after extra time.[15] The team's World Cup–winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978, Carlos Bilardo in 1986 and Lionel Scaloni in 2022.

Argentina has also been very successful in the South American Football Championship, the Copa América, winning it 15 times, a record it shares with Uruguay; they were crowned champions most recently in 2021. 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.[16]

Home stadium[edit]

Estadio Monumental, a frequent venue for Argentina

Argentina plays most of its home matches at River Plate's stadium, Estadio Monumental, in Buenos Aires,[17][18] although the team also uses various other venues frequently, such as Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades[19][20] and Boca Juniors' stadium, La Bombonera.[20] Those venues, along with Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes and Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario,[21] were used for the 2022 World Cup qualification.[22] Additionally, Argentina played some matches at Rosario Central's stadium, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, during their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.[23][24][25]

GEBA Stadium was the first stadium Argentina used for its home matches; that includes the Copa Newton match against Uruguay held on 13 September 1908,[26] which has a historic significance for being the first time Argentina wore the light blue and white-striped jersey in an official game, which has since then been the defining uniform up to the present day.[27] GEBA was also used for the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo, the first competition held between South American national teams, considered the predecessor of Copa América, organised by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in 1910. Most recently, Argentina played at GEBA on 19 October 1919, winning the Copa Premier Honor Argentino after a 6–1 victory over Uruguay.[28]

Furthermore, Estadio Sportivo Barracas is also considered a memorable venue for Argentina; the stadium was commonly used by Argentina from 1920 to 1932. Playing at the stadium for La Albiceleste on 2 October 1924, forward Cesáreo Onzari scored directly from a corner kick, the first such incident in football, when Argentina beat Uruguay 2–1; such goals are now often referred as Olympic goals due to the fact that Uruguay had just won the 1924 Olympic title.[29][30][31] Sportivo Barracas was later demolished after 1936.[32]

Team image[edit]

Kit[edit]

The classic light blue and white-striped jersey first worn on 2 July 1908 in a friendly match at São Paulo.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Argentina national football team kits.

The first kit ever worn by Argentina, in their official debut against Uruguay in 1902, included a light blue shirt.[33][34] On 2 July 1908, Argentina debuted a shirt with light blue vertical stripes on a white jersey, which they used when they played a side formed of Campeonato Paulista players at Velódromo Paulistano;[35] they used the jersey in an official game against Uruguay on 13 September 1908, and the striped jersey has remained as the definitive kit for Argentina ever since then.[27] The team's away kits have been in dark blue shades, with the colours of shorts and socks varying from time to time.[36]

Argentina has also sported other kits; on 3 June 1919 in Rio de Janeiro, playing against Brazil, Argentina wore a light blue kit, similar to that of Uruguay, out of respect for Roberto Chery, a substitute goalkeeper for Uruguay, who had collapsed and died during a match against Chile at the 1919 South American Championship;[37][38] the game between Argentina and Brazil was organised by the Brazilian Football Confederation for the benefit of Chery's relatives. At the 1958 World Cup, Argentina wore the yellow jersey of Swedish club IFK Malmö against West Germany, as the team had arrived in Sweden without an away kit.

Blue has always been the usual away color. In the image, Diego Maradona celebrating his goal of the century v England in 1986.

At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the then manager, Carlos Bilardo, asked the team's kit supplier, Le Coq Sportif, for lighter blue shirts for their quarter-final against England in three days, but they could not be provided. Then, a member of the coaching staff scoured the shops of Mexico City for 38 plain shirts, which were transformed with an improvised version of the AFA emblem embroidered on the shirts[39] and silvery American football numbers ironed to the backs.[40]

Sporting the makeshift jerseys, Argentina beat England on 22 June, with Diego Maradona scoring his famous "Hand of God goal".[41][42] Afterwards, the shirt became a symbol of the occasion and an important collector's item.[43]

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Argentina debuted a black away kit;[44] and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, they wore a purple away kit in a competitive game for the first time.[45][46]

Kit suppliers[edit]

Some of Argentina's historic jerseys exhibited in 2022
Kit supplier Period Ref.
United Kingdom St. Margaret 1901–1924 [47]
Argentina Gath & Chaves 1925–1934 [47][48]
(no data for the 1935–1957 period)
Argentina Industria Lanús 1958–1963 [49][47]
Argentina Noceto Sports 1964–1965 [50][51][47]
Argentina Sportlandia 1966 [52][47]
Argentina Industria Lanús 1967–1974 [52][47]
Germany Adidas 1974–1979 [48][53]
France Le Coq Sportif 1980–1989 [48][54]
Germany Adidas 1990–1998 [53][55]
United States Reebok 1999–2001 [56]
Germany Adidas 2001–present [53]

Crest[edit]

The AFA emblem that was added to playing kits in 1976

Argentina has used the logo of the Argentine Football Association as its emblem since it was first worn at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden; the logo was added to the team's jackets, but not the shirts.[39] The emblem was not used on jerseys until 16 November 1976, when Argentina played the Soviet Union at Estadio Monumental. At the beginning, the crest used did not include a laurel wreath,[57] which was first added for the 1982 World Cup.[39]

As a respected and common practice,[58] two stars were added above the crest in 2004, symbolising Argentina's World Cup titles in 1978 and 1986.[57] In 2022, a third star was added after Argentina were crowned world champions for the third time.[59]

Results and fixtures[edit]

Main article: Argentina national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023[edit]

15 June Friendly Argentina  2–0  Australia Beijing, China
20:00 (UTC+8)
Report Stadium: Workers' Stadium
Attendance: 68,000
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
19 June Friendly Indonesia  0–2  Argentina Jakarta, Indonesia
19:30 (UTC+7) Report
Stadium: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
Attendance: 56,060
Referee: Muhammad Usaid bin Jamal (Malaysia)
7 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  1–0  Ecuador Buenos Aires, Argentina
21:00 ART (UTC−3)
Report Stadium: Más Monumental
Attendance: 84,500[60]
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)
12 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  0–3  Argentina La Paz, Bolivia
16:00 BOT (UTC−4) Report
Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)
12 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  1–0  Paraguay Buenos Aires, Argentina
21:00 ART (UTC−3)
Report Stadium: Más Monumental
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
17 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Peru  0–2  Argentina Lima, Peru
21:00 PET (UTC−5) Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional
Attendance: 37,675
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
16 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  0–2  Uruguay Buenos Aires, Argentina
21:00 ART (UTC−3) Report
Stadium: La Bombonera
Attendance: 51,900
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)
21 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Brazil  0–1  Argentina Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
21:30 BRA (UTC−3) Report
Stadium: Maracanã
Attendance: 68,138
Referee: Piero Maza (Chile)

2024[edit]

22 March Friendly Argentina  3–0  El Salvador Philadelphia, United States
20:00 EDT (UTC−4)
Report Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
Referee: Victor Rivas (United States)
26 March Friendly Argentina  3–1  Costa Rica Los Angeles, United States
19:50 PDT (UTC−7)
Report
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Referee: Josef Mickelson (United States)[61]
9 June Friendly Argentina  v  Ecuador Chicago, United States
CDT (UTC−5) Stadium: Soldier Field
14 June Friendly Guatemala  v  Argentina Landover, United States
EDT (UTC−4) Stadium: Commanders Field
20 June 2024 Copa América Argentina  v  Canada Atlanta, United States
22:00 USA (UTC−4) Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
25 June 2024 Copa América Chile  v  Argentina East Rutherford, United States
23:00 USA (UTC−4) Stadium: MetLife Stadium
29 June 2024 Copa América Argentina  v  Peru Miami Gardens, United States
21:00 USA (UTC−4) Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
5 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  v  Chile Argentina
--:-- ARG (UTC−3)
10 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Colombia  v  Argentina Barranquilla, Colombia
--:-- COL (UTC−5) Stadium: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez
10 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Venezuela  v  Argentina Venezuela
--:-- VEN (UTC−4)
15 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  v  Bolivia Argentina
--:-- ARG (UTC−3)
14 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Paraguay  v  Argentina Asunción, Paraguay
--:-- PAR (UTC−4) Stadium: Estadio Defensores del Chaco
19 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  v  Peru Argentina
--:-- ARG (UTC−3)

Coaching staff[edit]

Position Name
Manager Argentina Lionel Scaloni
Assistant manager Argentina Pablo Aimar
Argentina Roberto Ayala
Assistant coach Argentina Walter Samuel
Assistant coach (analyst) Argentina Matías Manna
Goalkeeping coach Argentina Martín Tocalli
Fitness coach Argentina Luis Martín

Manager history[edit]

Main article: List of Argentina national football team managers

Players[edit]

See also: List of Argentina international footballers

Current squad[edit]

The following 26 players were named in the squad for the US March Tour matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica on 22 and 26 March 2024, respectively.[67] On 5 March, Marcos Senesi was withdrawn from the squad due to an injury in the right hamstring and was replaced by Nicolás Valentini.[68] On 12 March, Lisandro Martínez was added to the squad.[69] On 16 March, both Paulo Dybala and Lionel Messi were withdrawn from the squad due to an injury in the right adductor and an injury in the right hamstring respectively.[70] On 18 March, Exequiel Palacios was withdrawn from the squad due to a muscular injury and was replaced by Guido Rodríguez.[71]

Caps and goals are correct as of 26 March 2024, after the match against Costa Rica.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Franco Armani (1986-10-16) 16 October 1986 (age 37) 19 0 Argentina River Plate
12 1GK Walter Benítez (1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 (age 31) 1 0 Netherlands PSV Eindhoven
23 1GK Emiliano Martínez (1992-09-02) 2 September 1992 (age 31) 37 0 England Aston Villa
2 2DF Nehuén Pérez (2000-06-24) 24 June 2000 (age 23) 2 0 Italy Udinese
3 2DF Nicolás Tagliafico (1992-08-31) 31 August 1992 (age 31) 57 1 France Lyon
4 2DF Nahuel Molina (1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 (age 26) 37 1 Spain Atlético Madrid
6 2DF Germán Pezzella (1991-06-27) 27 June 1991 (age 32) 40 3 Spain Real Betis
13 2DF Cristian Romero (1998-04-27) 27 April 1998 (age 25) 30 3 England Tottenham Hotspur
19 2DF Nicolás Otamendi (1988-02-12) 12 February 1988 (age 36) 111 6 Portugal Benfica
25 2DF Nicolás Valentini (2001-04-06) 6 April 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Argentina Boca Juniors
26 2DF Valentín Barco (2004-07-23) 23 July 2004 (age 19) 1 0 England Brighton & Hove Albion
5 3MF Leandro Paredes (1994-06-29) 29 June 1994 (age 29) 60 5 Italy Roma
7 3MF Rodrigo De Paul (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 29) 62 2 Spain Atlético Madrid
8 3MF Enzo Fernández (2001-01-17) 17 January 2001 (age 23) 21 4 England Chelsea
14 3MF Facundo Buonanotte (2004-12-23) 23 December 2004 (age 19) 2 0 England Brighton & Hove Albion
16 3MF Giovani Lo Celso (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 28) 50 3 England Tottenham Hotspur
18 3MF Guido Rodríguez (1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 30) 29 1 Spain Real Betis
20 3MF Alexis Mac Allister (1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 (age 25) 25 2 England Liverpool
24 3MF Valentín Carboni (2005-03-05) 5 March 2005 (age 19) 1 0 Italy Monza
9 4FW Julián Álvarez (2000-01-31) 31 January 2000 (age 24) 29 7 England Manchester City
11 4FW Ángel Di María (vice-captain) (1988-02-14) 14 February 1988 (age 36) 138 30 Portugal Benfica
15 4FW Nicolás González (1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 (age 26) 32 5 Italy Fiorentina
17 4FW Alejandro Garnacho (2004-07-01) 1 July 2004 (age 19) 5 0 England Manchester United
22 4FW Lautaro Martínez (1997-08-22) 22 August 1997 (age 26) 56 22 Italy Inter Milan

Recent call-ups[edit]

The following players have also been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Juan Musso (1994-05-06) 6 May 1994 (age 29) 2 0 Italy Atalanta v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
GK Gerónimo Rulli (1992-05-20) 20 May 1992 (age 31) 4 0 Netherlands Ajax v.  Indonesia, 19 June 2023
DF Lisandro Martínez (1998-01-18) 18 January 1998 (age 26) 16 0 England Manchester United v.  El Salvador, 22 March 2024 INJ
DF Marcos Senesi (1997-05-10) 10 May 1997 (age 26) 1 0 England Bournemouth v.  El Salvador, 22 March 2024 INJ
DF Marcos Acuña (1991-10-28) 28 October 1991 (age 32) 56 0 Spain Sevilla v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
DF Gonzalo Montiel (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27) 24 1 England Nottingham Forest v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
DF Lucas Martínez Quarta (1996-05-10) 10 May 1996 (age 27) 12 0 Italy Fiorentina v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
DF Pablo Maffeo (1997-07-12) 12 July 1997 (age 26) 0 0 Spain Mallorca v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
DF Francisco Ortega (1999-03-19) 19 March 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Greece Olympiacos v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
DF Facundo Medina (1999-05-28) 28 May 1999 (age 24) 3 0 France Lens v.  Peru, 17 October 2023
DF Juan Foyth (1998-01-12) 12 January 1998 (age 26) 18 0 Spain Villarreal v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 INJ
DF Marco Pellegrino (2002-07-18) 18 July 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Italy Milan v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 at U23
DF Lucas Esquivel (2001-10-14) 14 October 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Brazil Athletico Paranaense v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 at U23
DF Leonardo Balerdi (1999-01-26) 26 January 1999 (age 25) 2 0 France Marseille v.  Indonesia, 19 June 2023
MF Exequiel Palacios (1998-10-05) 5 October 1998 (age 25) 28 0 Germany Bayer Leverkusen v.  El Salvador, 22 March 2024 INJ
MF Thiago Almada (2001-04-26) 26 April 2001 (age 23) 4 1 United States Atlanta United v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 at U23
MF Carlos Alcaraz (2002-11-30) 30 November 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Italy Juventus v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 at U23
MF Facundo Farías (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 21) 0 0 United States Inter Miami v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 at U23
MF Bruno Zapelli (2002-05-17) 17 May 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Brazil Athletico Paranaense v.  Paraguay, 12 October 2023 at U23
FW Lionel Messi (1987-06-24) 24 June 1987 (age 36) 180 106 United States Inter Miami v.  El Salvador, 22 March 2024 INJ
FW Paulo Dybala (1993-11-15) 15 November 1993 (age 30) 38 3 Italy Roma v.  El Salvador, 22 March 2024 INJ
FW Lucas Ocampos (1994-07-11) 11 July 1994 (age 29) 12 2 Spain Sevilla v.  Brazil, 21 November 2023
FW Lucas Beltrán (2001-03-29) 29 March 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Italy Fiorentina v.  Peru, 17 October 2023
FW Ángel Correa (1995-03-09) 9 March 1995 (age 29) 24 3 Spain Atlético Madrid v.  Bolivia, 12 September 2023
FW Alan Velasco (2002-07-27) 27 July 2002 (age 21) 0 0 United States FC Dallas v.  Ecuador, 7 September 2023 at U23
FW Giovanni Simeone (1995-07-05) 5 July 1995 (age 28) 6 1 Italy Napoli v.  Indonesia, 19 June 2023

COV Withdrew from the squad due to quarantine or infection by COVID-19
INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Suspended
U23 Selected at the Argentina national under-23 football team

Individual records and achievements[edit]

Main article: Argentina national football team records and statistics
As of 22 March 2024.[72]
Players in bold are still active with Argentina.

Most-capped players[edit]

Lionel Messi is Argentina's most-capped player ever and also its all-time top scorer.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Lionel Messi 180 106 2005–present
2 Javier Mascherano 147 3 2003–2018
3 Javier Zanetti 145 5 1994–2011
4 Ángel Di María 138 30 2008–present
5 Roberto Ayala 115 7 1994–2007
6 Nicolás Otamendi 111 6 2009–present
7 Diego Simeone 104 11 1988–2002
8 Sergio Agüero 101 41 2006–2021
9 Oscar Ruggeri 97 7 1983–1994
10 Sergio Romero 96 0 2009–2018

Top goalscorers[edit]

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Lionel Messi (list) 106 180 0.59 2005–present
2 Gabriel Batistuta (list) 56 78 0.72 1991–2002
3 Sergio Agüero 41 101 0.41 2006–2021
4 Hernán Crespo 35 64 0.55 1995–2007
5 Diego Maradona (list) 34 91 0.37 1977–1994
6 Gonzalo Higuaín 31 75 0.41 2009–2018
7 Ángel Di María 30 138 0.21 2008–present
8 Luis Artime 24 25 0.96 1961–1967
9 Leopoldo Luque 22 45 0.49 1975–1981
Daniel Passarella 22 70 0.31 1976–1986
Lautaro Martínez 22 56 0.39 2018–present

World Cup-winning captains[edit]

World Cup winning captains of Argentina
Daniel Passarella in 1978
Diego Maradona in 1986
Lionel Messi in 2022
Year Player Caps Goals
1978 Daniel Passarella 70 22
1986 Diego Maradona 91 34
2022 Lionel Messi 180 106

Caps[edit]

Goals[edit]

Manager records[edit]

World Cup awards and achievements[edit]

World Cup Golden Ball

The World Cup Golden Ball has been given by FIFA to the best player at the World Cup since 1982; Argentina players have won it thrice; Maradona in 1986 and Messi in 2014 and 2022.[85]

World Cup top goalscorer

Guillermo Stábile in 1930 and Mario Kempes in 1978 were both the top-scoring players at their respective World Cups.[86]

World Cup Golden Glove

The best goalkeeper at the World Cup is awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove. In 2022 this award was won by Emiliano Martínez.[87]

World Cup Young Player Award

The best player at the World Cup who is no older than 21 during the calendar year of the tournament is awarded the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award. In 2022 this award was won by Enzo Fernández.[87]

Competitive record[edit]

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place     Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

FIFA World Cup[edit]

Main article: Argentina at the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Runners-up 2nd 5 4 0 1 18 9 Squad Qualified as invitees
Italy 1934 Round of 16 9th 1 0 0 1 2 3 Squad Qualified automatically
France 1938 Withdrew Withdrew
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958 Group stage 13th 3 1 0 2 5 10 Squad 4 3 0 1 10 2
Chile 1962 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 3 Squad 2 2 0 0 11 3
England 1966 Quarter-finals 5th 4 2 1 1 4 2 Squad 4 3 1 0 9 2
Mexico 1970 Did not qualify 4 1 1 2 4 6
West Germany 1974 Second group stage 8th 6 1 2 3 9 12 Squad 4 3 1 0 9 2
Argentina 1978 Champions 1st 7 5 1 1 15 4 Squad Qualified as hosts
Spain 1982 Second group stage 11th 5 2 0 3 8 7 Squad Qualified as defending champions
Mexico 1986 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 14 5 Squad 6 4 1 1 12 6
Italy 1990 Runners-up 2nd 7 2 3 2 5 4 Squad Qualified as defending champions
United States 1994 Round of 16 10th 4 2 0 2 8 6 Squad 8 4 2 2 9 10
France 1998 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 1 1 10 4 Squad 16 8 6 2 23 13
South Korea Japan 2002 Group stage 18th 3 1 1 1 2 2 Squad 18 13 4 1 42 15
Germany 2006 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 2 0 11 3 Squad 18 10 4 4 29 17
South Africa 2010 Quarter-finals 5th 5 4 0 1 10 6 Squad 18 8 4 6 23 20
Brazil 2014 Runners-up 2nd 7 5 1 1 8 4 Squad 16 9 5 2 35 15
Russia 2018 Round of 16 16th 4 1 1 2 6 9 Squad 18 7 7 4 19 16
Qatar 2022 Champions 1st 7 4 2 1 15 8 Squad 17 11 6 0 27 8
Canada Mexico United States 2026 Qualification in progress 5 4 0 1 7 2
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 Qualified as commemorative match hosts Qualified as commemorative match hosts
Saudi Arabia 2034 To be determined To be determined
Total 3 Titles 18/22 88 47 17 24 152 101 — 158 90 42 26 269 137
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Copa América[edit]

Main article: Argentina at the Copa América
South American Championship / Copa América record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
Argentina 1916 Runners-up 2nd 3 1 2 0 7 2 Squad
Uruguay 1917 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 5 3 Squad
Brazil 1919 Third place 3rd 3 1 0 2 7 7 Squad
Chile 1920 Runners-up 2nd 3 1 2 0 4 2 Squad
Argentina 1921 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 5 0 Squad
Brazil 1922 Fourth place 4th 4 2 0 2 6 3 Squad
Uruguay 1923 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 6 6 Squad
Uruguay 1924 Runners-up 2nd 3 1 2 0 2 0 Squad
Argentina 1925 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 11 4 Squad
Chile 1926 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 1 1 14 3 Squad
Peru 1927 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 15 4 Squad
Argentina 1929 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 9 1 Squad
Peru 1935 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 8 5 Squad
Argentina 1937 Champions 1st 6 5 0 1 14 5 Squad
Peru 1939 Withdrew
Chile 1941 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 10 2 Squad
Uruguay 1942 Runners-up 2nd 6 4 1 1 21 6 Squad
Chile 1945 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 22 5 Squad
Argentina 1946 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 17 3 Squad
Ecuador 1947 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 28 4 Squad
Brazil 1949 Withdrew
Peru 1953
Chile 1955 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 18 6 Squad
Uruguay1956 Third place 3rd 5 3 0 2 5 3 Squad
Peru 1957 Champions 1st 6 5 0 1 25 6 Squad
Argentina 1959 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 19 5 Squad
Ecuador 1959 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 1 1 9 9 Squad
Bolivia 1963 Third place 3rd 6 3 1 2 15 10 Squad
Uruguay 1967 Runners-up 2nd 5 4 0 1 12 3 Squad
1975 Group stage 5th 4 2 0 2 17 4 Squad
1979 Group stage 8th 4 1 1 2 7 6 Squad
1983 Group stage 6th 4 1 3 0 5 4 Squad
Argentina 1987 Fourth place 4th 4 1 1 2 5 4 Squad
Brazil 1989 Third place 3rd 7 2 3 2 2 4 Squad
Chile 1991 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 16 6 Squad
Ecuador 1993 Champions 1st 6 2 4 0 6 4 Squad
Uruguay 1995 Quarter-finals 5th 4 2 1 1 8 6 Squad
Bolivia 1997 Quarter-finals 6th 4 1 2 1 4 3 Squad
Paraguay 1999 Quarter-finals 8th 4 2 0 2 6 6 Squad
Colombia 2001 Withdrew
Peru 2004 Runners-up 2nd 6 4 1 1 16 6 Squad
Venezuela 2007 Runners-up 2nd 6 5 0 1 16 6 Squad
Argentina 2011 Quarter-finals 7th 4 1 3 0 5 2 Squad
Chile 2015 Runners-up 2nd 6 3 3 0 10 3 Squad
United States 2016 Runners-up 2nd 6 5 1 0 18 2 Squad
Brazil 2019 Third place 3rd 6 3 1 2 7 6 Squad
Brazil 2021 Champions 1st 7 5 2 0 12 3 Squad
United States 2024 Qualified
Total 15 Titles 43/47 202 127 42 33 474 182 —

FIFA Confederations Cup[edit]

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
Saudi Arabia 1992 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 7 1 Squad
Saudi Arabia 1995 Runners-up 2nd 3 1 1 1 5 3 Squad
Saudi Arabia 1997 Did not qualify
Mexico 1999
South Korea Japan 2001
France 2003
Germany 2005 Runners-up 2nd 5 2 2 1 10 10 Squad
South Africa 2009 Did not qualify
Brazil 2013
Russia 2017
Total 1 Title 3/10 10 5 3 2 22 14 —

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions[edit]

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
France 1985 Did not qualify
Argentina 1993 Champions 1st 1 0 1 0 1 1
England 2022 Champions 1st 1 1 0 0 3 0
Total 2 Titles 2/3 2 1 1 0 4 1
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic team[edit]

For Olympic records, see Argentina national under-23 football team.

Head-to-head record[edit]

Main article: Argentina national football team records and statistics

Below is a result summary of all matches Argentina has played against FIFA recognised teams.[88]

As of 26 March 2024

  Positive record   Neutral record   Negative record