15 Iconic Moments in Argentina Football History: From Maradona to Messi
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Argentina Football History: 15 Iconic Moments From Maradona to Messi
Argentina's football history is filled with moments that have gone far beyond the result of a single match. World Cup triumphs, heartbreaking defeats, unforgettable goals and generations of extraordinary players have helped make the Argentina national team one of the most recognisable sides in international football.
Diego Maradona became the face of one golden era. Lionel Messi eventually created another. In between, players such as Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Román Riquelme, Javier Mascherano and Ángel Di María helped shape the story.
Here are 15 iconic moments that capture Argentina's remarkable football journey.
1. Argentina Win Their First World Cup – 1978
Argentina's first FIFA World Cup triumph arrived on home soil in 1978. Led by César Luis Menotti, La Albiceleste reached the final in Buenos Aires, where they faced the Netherlands.
Mario Kempes became the tournament's star and played a decisive role in the final. Kempes scored twice as Argentina won 3–1 after extra time, giving the country its first World Cup. The victory established Argentina among international football's major powers and created the foundation for everything that followed.
2. Maradona Makes His World Cup Debut – 1982
Diego Maradona's first World Cup did not conclude with Argentina winning the trophy, but the 1982 World Cup held in Spain marked the beginning of one of football's greatest individual World Cup narratives.
Maradona arrived as one of the most exciting young players in world football after helping Boca Juniors win the Argentine title. Argentina were eliminated in the second round, but Maradona's presence marked the beginning of an era in which the No.10 would become the central figure of the national team.
3. The "Hand of God" – 1986
Few moments in football history are as famous as Maradona's opening goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. Maradona challenged goalkeeper Peter Shilton for a high ball and somehow directed it into the net with his hand.
The goal was allowed to stand, despite the obvious controversy, and Maradona later described it as being scored partly by "the hand of God". It was controversial, but it became permanently associated with one of the most famous matches in Argentine football history.
4. The "Goal of the Century" – 1986
Just minutes after the Hand of God, Maradona produced something completely different. Receiving the ball inside his own half, he embarked on a breathtaking solo run, beating several England players before rounding goalkeeper Shilton and finishing.
The goal became known as the "Goal of the Century" and was later voted the greatest goal in FIFA World Cup history. Two goals in one quarter-final captured the extraordinary nature of Maradona: controversial on one side, almost impossibly brilliant on the other.
5. Maradona Lifts the World Cup – 1986
Argentina's 1986 World Cup triumph was about much more than two goals against England.
Maradona carried enormous responsibility throughout the tournament and was at the centre of Argentina's attacking play.
In the final against West Germany in Mexico City, Argentina led 2–0 before their opponents fought back to level the match.
With the game heading towards extra time, Jorge Burruchaga scored the decisive goal after receiving a superb pass from Maradona. Argentina won 3–2 and claimed their second World Cup. For Maradona, it became the defining achievement of his career.
6. Argentina Reach Another World Cup Final – 1990
Argentina returned to the World Cup final in 1990, again with Maradona at the heart of the team. This time, however, there was no happy ending.
West Germany defeated Argentina 1–0 in Rome through Andreas Brehme's late penalty. The tournament became famous for Argentina's defensive resilience, Sergio Goycochea's penalty-saving heroics and Maradona's emotional battles with the Italian crowd.
Although they failed to retain the trophy, reaching consecutive World Cup finals demonstrated just how powerful Argentina had become during the Maradona era.
7. Argentina Win the Copa América Again – 1993
Argentina's 1993 Copa América triumph is an important milestone because it was the national team's last major senior trophy before a long period of frustration. Gabriel Batistuta scored both goals in Argentina's 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final in Ecuador.
Batistuta was becoming one of the defining forwards of his generation, while Argentina's squad included several players who would remain important figures throughout the 1990s.
What followed was an extraordinary wait.
Argentina would not win another senior men's major international trophy for 28 years.
8. Argentina Win Olympic Gold in Athens – 2004
Argentina's next major international success came at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The team, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, went through the tournament without conceding a goal and defeated Paraguay 1–0 in the final.
Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the final and finished the tournament as the competition's leading scorer. The success was particularly significant because it introduced another generation of Argentine talent to the international stage.
Javier Mascherano was also part of the squad, beginning an international journey that would eventually span more than a decade.
9. Messi Wins the Under-20 World Cup – 2005
Lionel Messi's first major international triumph arrived at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005. Still a teenager, Messi became one of the tournament's outstanding players as Argentina won the title.
He scored twice in the final against Nigeria, including the winning penalty, and finished the tournament with the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
It was an early indication that Argentina had another special No.10 coming through.
The player who would eventually inherit Maradona's place in the national conversation had begun making his mark.
10. Messi and Di María Win Olympic Gold – 2008
Three years later, Messi was part of another successful Argentine generation at the Beijing Olympics. Argentina defeated Nigeria 1–0 in the final, with Ángel Di María scoring the winning goal after being released by Messi.
The squad also included Juan Román Riquelme, Sergio Agüero and Javier Mascherano. The victory gave Argentina back-to-back Olympic football gold medals after their success in Athens four years earlier.
It also began one of the most important international partnerships in Argentina's modern history: Messi and Di María. The pair would later share some of the biggest moments of the senior team's revival.
11. The Heartbreak of the 2014 World Cup Final
By 2014, Messi had become the undisputed face of Argentine football. He led Argentina to the World Cup final in Brazil, producing several important performances along the way.
The final against Germany was eventually decided in extra time when Mario Götze scored the only goal of the match. Argentina had come agonisingly close to a third World Cup, while Messi received the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
The defeat became one of the most painful chapters of Messi's international career. At that stage, however, few could have imagined how dramatically his story with Argentina would eventually change.
12. Messi Finally Wins the Copa América – 2021
After years of disappointment, Messi finally lifted a major senior international trophy with Argentina at the 2021 Copa América. The final was played against Brazil at the Maracanã, a stadium filled with history and pressure.
Ángel Di María scored the only goal as Argentina won 1–0. For Messi, the significance went far beyond the medal. He had lost major finals with Argentina and had even briefly announced his international retirement in 2016.
The Copa América victory finally ended Argentina's 28-year wait for a senior men's major trophy and gave Messi his first major title with the national team.
It also changed the atmosphere around the player. Messi was no longer simply the superstar who had repeatedly fallen short with Argentina. He was now a champion.
13. Argentina Beat Italy at Wembley – 2022
Argentina's revival continued at Wembley in June 2022. As the reigning Copa América champions, they faced European champions Italy in the first edition of the Finalissima.
Argentina produced an outstanding performance, winning 3–0 through goals from Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala. Messi did not score, but he was heavily involved in Argentina's attacking performance and was named player of the match.
The victory extended Argentina's remarkable unbeaten run and provided another sign that Lionel Scaloni's team was ready for the World Cup later that year.
14. Messi Finally Lifts the World Cup – 2022
The defining moment of Messi's international career arrived in Qatar. Argentina lost their opening group match to Saudi Arabia but recovered to reach the final, where they faced France.
The match became one of the greatest World Cup finals ever played. Messi scored twice, while Argentina eventually defeated France on penalties after the match finished 3–3 following extra time.
At last, Messi had won the World Cup. Argentina won their third World Cup title, marking their first championship since 1986.
Messi also became the first player to win the World Cup's Golden Ball twice, having previously received the award in 2014. The victory finally placed his name alongside Maradona's at the summit of Argentine football history.
15. Messi's Final Chapter With Argentina – From Copa América 2024 to His International Farewell
The story of Lionel Messi and Argentina did not end with the 2022 World Cup. Argentina followed their triumph in Qatar by winning another Copa América in 2024, defeating Colombia 1–0 after extra time in the final.
Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal, while Messi was forced off with an injury during the match. The victory gave Argentina back-to-back Copa América titles and continued one of the most successful periods in the country's international history.
Two years later, Messi returned for what became his final World Cup. At 39, he helped Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final, where they faced Spain.
Argentina were eventually beaten 1–0 after extra time, ending their hopes of becoming world champions again. For Messi, it was a painful conclusion to another remarkable World Cup campaign. Yet his international story still had one final chapter.
On 31 August 2026, Messi announced that he was retiring from international football. He had already indicated that the 2026 World Cup would be his final appearance at the tournament, but the decision brought an end to a remarkable 21-year career with Argentina.
Messi's final appearance for Argentina came on 6 October 2026 against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
He scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina won 3–0, bringing his international career to an emotional close. He finished with 208 appearances and 126 goals for Argentina.
Argentina's Football History in 15 Moments
Year | Iconic moment | Key figure |
1978 | Argentina win their first World Cup | Mario Kempes |
1982 | Maradona appears at his first World Cup | Diego Maradona |
1986 | The Hand of God | Diego Maradona |
1986 | Goal of the Century | Diego Maradona |
1986 | Argentina win the World Cup | Diego Maradona |
1990 | Argentina reach another World Cup final | Diego Maradona |
1993 | Argentina win the Copa América | Gabriel Batistuta |
2004 | Argentina win Olympic gold | Carlos Tevez |
2005 | Messi wins the Under-20 World Cup | Lionel Messi |
2008 | Argentina win Olympic gold again | Lionel Messi & Ángel Di María |
2014 | Argentina lose the World Cup final | Lionel Messi |
2021 | Argentina win the Copa América | Lionel Messi & Ángel Di María |
2022 | Argentina win the Finalissima | Lionel Messi |
2022 | Messi wins the World Cup | Lionel Messi |
2024–2026 | Argentina win another Copa América before Messi's international farewell | Lionel Messi |
Messi's final appearance for Argentina came in Buenos Aires against Benin in October 2026, bringing an emotional end to a 21-year international career.
Argentina's football history is ultimately a story of greatness and resilience. Maradona's generation gave the country its second World Cup.
Messi's generation ended decades of frustration by winning the Copa América, Finalissima and World Cup in a remarkable sequence of success.
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