Argentina
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Starting XI Prediction
Star Players
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Fixtures
Group J
Full Squad Players List
| # | Player | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Juan Musso Atlético De Madrid | GK | |
| 12 | Gerónimo Rulli Olympique Marseille | GK | |
| 23 | Lautaro MartínezXI Aston Villa FC | GK | |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Leonardo Balerdi Olympique Marseille | DEF | |
| 3 | Nicolás TagliaficoXI Olympique Lyonnais | DEF | |
| 4 | Gonzalo Montiel CA River Plate | DEF | |
| 6 | Emiliano MartínezXI Manchester United FC | DEF | |
| 13 | Cristian RomeroXI Tottenham Hotspur FC | DEF | |
| 19 | Nicolás Otamendi SL Benca | DEF | |
| 25 | Facundo Medina Olympique Marseille | DEF | |
| 26 | Nahuel MolinaXI Atlético De Madrid | DEF | |
| Midfielders | |||
| 5 | Leandro ParedesXI CA Boca Juniors | MID | |
| 7 | Rodrigo De PaulXI Inter Miami CF | MID | |
| 8 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg | MID | |
| 11 | Giovani Lo Celso Real Betis | MID | |
| 14 | Exequiel Palacios Bayer Leverkusen | MID | |
| 15 | Nicolás González Atlético De Madrid | MID | |
| 20 | Alexis Mac AllisterXI Liverpool FC | MID | |
| 24 | Enzo Fernández Chelsea FC | MID | |
| Forwards | |||
| 9 | Julián ÁlvarezXI Atlético De Madrid | FWD | |
| 10 | Lionel MessiXI Inter Miami CF | FWD | |
| 16 | Thiago Almada Atlético De Madrid | FWD | |
| 17 | Giuliano Simeone Atlético De Madrid | FWD | |
| 18 | Nico Paz Como | FWD | |
| 21 | Jose Manuel López SE Palmeiras | FWD | |
| 22 | Lisandro MartínezXI FC Internazionale Milano | FWD | |
World Cup History
1978, 1986, 2022
Titles
18
Appearances
145
WC Goals
47
Wins
Best finish: Champions (×3)
Top scorer: Gabriel Batistuta (10 goals)
Most capped: Lionel Messi (26 matches)
Record: 47W – 15D – 26L
Argentina are one of football's great World Cup powers — three-time champions and six-time runners-up, with 47 victories in 88 WC matches. Their story spans the joyful trickery of Maradona to the patient genius of Messi, producing two of the most iconic individual World Cup performances in history and one of the sport's great redemption arcs.
Tournament Eras
The 1978 Triumph — Home Soil
1978Argentina claimed their first World Cup title on home soil in Buenos Aires, with Mario Kempes finishing as top scorer with 6 goals — including two in the final against Netherlands. The tournament remains controversial due to the political context of Argentina's military government, but Kempes' brilliance was undeniable.
The Maradona Era
1982–1990Diego Maradona's 1986 tournament in Mexico stands as the single greatest individual World Cup performance in history. His two goals against England in the quarter-final — the 'Hand of God' and the 'Goal of the Century' — define football mythology. He then dragged an ordinary squad to the final in 1990, where Argentina lost on penalties to Germany despite Maradona's best efforts.
Batistuta and the Near-Misses
1994–2006Gabriel Batistuta became Argentina's all-time WC top scorer (later overtaken by Messi) across three tournaments. Despite boasting technically gifted squads, Argentina could not get past the quarter-finals, losing on penalties in 1998 and 2006.
Messi's Quest — And the Triumph
2006–2022Messi's World Cup journey was football's longest-running compelling drama — four successive tournaments, each ending in heartbreak. In 2014 he was the best player in the tournament but Argentina lost the final to Germany in extra time. Then in Qatar 2022 — at age 35 — he delivered one of the greatest individual tournament performances ever: 7 goals, 3 assists, including a stunning overtime final won on penalties against France. The long-denied redemption was complete.
Iconic Moments
Hand of God + Goal of the Century
In four astonishing minutes against England, Maradona scored two goals that couldn't be more different — one with his fist (punched past the goalkeeper and given), one with his feet (dribbling past five players from the halfway line). Both are the most debated and celebrated goals in football history.
Mario Kempes — The 1978 Final
Kempes scored twice in the final against Netherlands, including an extra-time winner. In a tournament he dominated as top scorer, he embodied Argentina's dream of winning a World Cup on home soil.
Messi Lifts the Trophy
After 35 years and five attempts across his career, Messi scored twice in a 3-3 final and then converted in the shootout, before lifting the trophy in Qatar. The outpouring of joy from Argentina fans worldwide made it one of sport's most emotional moments.